The Semi-centennial jubilee of the Bohemian National Cemetery Association in Chicago, Illinois : a free English version of J. J. Jelínek's Bohemian Historical Sketch

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Erected in front of the Cremiitorutm tn the Jubilee year of 1927

'mo

SEMI-CENTENNIAL

JUBILEE

OF THE

BOHEMIAN

NATIONAL CEMETERY

ASSOCIATION

IN CHICAGO
ILLINOIS

A FREE ENGLISH VERSION OF J. J. JELfNEK'S
BOHEMIAN HISTORICAL SKETCH

BY

Dr. J. E. S. VOJAN

Ai.

CHICAGO, ILL.

THE BOHEMIAN NATIONAL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

1927

The History of the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa-
tion, 1877 — 1927, by J. J. Jelinek (in Bohemian) was com-
piled from the minutes of tlie meetings of the Association
with the help of the Historical Sketch by F. B. Zdrtkbek.
and of the Editorial Committee. It is dedicated to the
memory of all those dear and beloved ones who dream
their last sleep at the Bohemian National Cemetery and
published as a remembrance for all sincere Americans of
Bohemian descent, both present and future generationsi

436 R. MEJDRICH & CO.

%-'i'<^*1.'\M^i

"Under the wide and starry sky-
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,

And I laid me down with a will;
This be the verse you grave for me:
"Here he lies where he longed to be,
Home is the sailor, home from sea.

And the hunter home from the hill.'

HIS beautiful little poem from Robert
Louis Stevenson is the most sublime ex-
pression of the human long^ing for eter-
nal peace when — in Shakespeare's
words — we enter the undiscovered
country, from whose bourn no traveller
returns.

Our duty is to take from every

grave its fear. From the wondrous

tree of Life the buds and blossoms fall

Vjj along with the ripened fruit, and in

V the common bed of earth patriarchs and babes sleep

^^ side by side. Why should we fear that which will

\K come to all that exists? Death means peace and rest

for the departed. But to those who survive and live

separated from their loved ones, it means grief. The

custom introduced in this country by the communities

^- of Moravian Brothers, who formed their burial places

^ into gardens, has changed cemeteries to Gardens of

''i^ the Dead. The Moravian Brothers were Bohemian

>^ emigrants who went first from Moravia to Saxony,

^' in 1724, and then, between 1741 and 1762, settled

in Pennsylvania. The Bohemians of Chicago trod

3

therefore in the steps of their fellow-countrymen
when they made the Bohemian National Cemetery of
Chicago a beautiful Garden of the Dead.

The Bohemian National Cemetery owes its exis-
tence to regrettable circumstances which arose in the
seventies of the last century. Some Catholic priests
so far forgot the charitable teachings of the founder
of their religion as to refuse to permit burial of Bohe-
main freethinkers in the ground of their cemeteries.
But as James Thomson said, ''from seeming evil still
educing good," the Bohemian freethinkers who in
those days, just as today, formed about 75 per cent
of the Bohemian population of Chicago, joined to-
gether and founded their own cemetery which grew
so successfully from such small beginnings that the
present Bohemian National Cemetery is the pride not
only of the Bohemians of Chicago, but of the Bohe-
mians of the whole United States.

The Bohemian National Cemetery is a splendid
monument to the united fraternal action of Bohemian
societies of this great city and is a proof that the
greatest things may be built from modest beginnings
if a zealous and enthusiastic love fills the minds and
hearts of intrepid men. The Bohemian Freethinkers
of Chicago leave their beautiful Bohemian National
Cemetery to their sons and all their posterity as a
dear and precious heritage with the deep conviction
that the honor for the dead beloved who sleep in the
bosom of this sacred Garden of the Dead will always
be an incentive for those who will come after us to
zealously guard this national property and to take
care of it with the same love as their fathers and fore-
fathers did.

Such is the heartiest wish of those who put this
book into the hands of our people, to the greater
honor and glory of the Bohemian name!

-iIk»

■ ^^ '■

ECENTLY an American author said that
the Czechoslovaks were the Yankees
of Central Europe, in the traditional
sense of that word. From about 500
A. D. they lived in their beautiful Bo-
hemia, an independent, liberty-loving
nation, valiant and unconquerable. In
1620 Bohemia lost her independence.
The nation suffered for 300 years un-
der the Habsburg yoke, but when the
World Ware came, the Bohemians
(Czechs) and Slovaks rose up. The Czechoslovak
legionnaires fought in France, Italy and Russia,
and on October 28, 1918, the rebirth of Bohemian
independence put the Republic of Czechoslovakia on
the world's map. Such is the race whose blood cir-
culated in the veins of Bohemian immigrants who
have been coming steadily to the United States ever
since 1848. They hoped that this Land of the Free
would give them the political liberty of which they
were deprived when their country was a part of the
Austrian monarchy, as well as the economical possi-
bilities closed to them in the old, overpopulated coun-
tries of Europe, full of barriers and hatreds, and well
were their hopes realized. Our immigrants who came

to America in those days knew that they would have
to struggle and fight for existence, and therefore only
daring, hard-headed people came to these shores. The
present economic strength of the Bohemians of Chi-
cago shows that they belonged and still belong to
the most desirable immigrants, and that the best poli-
cy for the United States is to receive these sturdy
self-made men with open arms.

The first groups of Bohemians appeared in Chi-
cago in 1852 — 1853. These pioneers squatted on the
outskirts of the city, on land that is now a part of
Lincoln Park. But the first permanent Bohemian
settlement took root about 1856 on Canal Street. From
that time on the Bohemians became a significant ele-
ment. Already in 1860 the population of the Bohe-
mian settlement had mounted to 10,000 people and
the settlement extended on Canal Street from Ewing
and Polk Streets south to the river and on almost all
cross streets west to Halsted Street, and especially on
De Koven, Bunker and West 12th Street. Here many
Bohemians became house owners, and the first mani-
festation of a rapidly growing social life was the
founding of the first Bohemian society *'Slovanska
Lipa'^ (The Slavic Linden) on November 20, 1861.
After the big fire the Bohemians moved to the 18th
Street district where the second and very prosperous
Bohemian settlement became known under the name
of the "Bohemian Pilsen" (in the old country Pilsen
is the next largest city after the capital of Prague and
enjoys a world renown on account of its famous Pil-
sen beer). "The Pilsen Station," the official name of
the post office in this section of the city, shows how
popular was the name of the Bohemian settlement.
On October 8, 1875, the first number of "Svornost"
(Concord,) the first Bohemian daily in the United
States, was published by August Geringer.

The last U. S. census (1920) found 106,428 Bohe-
mians in Chicago (43,676 foreign-born and 62,752
native), but the correct number of Bohemians is much
greater, because thousands of them are living in Ber-
wyn, Cicero, Oak Park and other suburban districts.
Whole blocks in the "Bohemian California'* (the sec-
tion around W. 26th St., west from California Ave.)

and in the above named suburban towns were built
up by and are owned by Bohemians. A significant
evidence of their prosperity can be found in the fact
that the Bohemian Building and Loan Associations
already in 1910 were 94 in number (of a total of 197
Chicago associations) and their assets were $8,785,-
917. Twenty state banks and three national banks
were established by Bohemians of Chicago.

But let us return to the seventies of the last
century.

In 1876 Father Joseph Molitor, pastor of the
Catholic St. Vaclav Parish, a very quarrelsome man,
got into trouble with the fraternal St. Vaclav Society
and later went so far that he refused burial at the
Bohemian-Polish Catholic Cemetery to all whom he
disliked. The case of Mrs. Marie Silhanek who died
on July 25, 1876, taxed the patience of the Bohemian
people to the breaking point. Although she had been
Catholic all her life, the erratic priest did not allow
her to be buried at the Catholic cemetery, simply be-
cause she did not confess before her death. From
this day on the movement for freedom from the
yoke of the fanatic priest began to grow rapidly.

The initiative was taken by Mr. Frank Zdrubek,
then editor of the Bohemian daily ''Svornost'', who
held public lectures under the auspices of the Bohe-
mian Freethinkers' Society at the hall of the Sokol
Gymnastic Association. Influenced by the above men-
tioned case of Mrs. Silhanek he announced to the
public that in his January lecture he would discuss
the necessity of a National Bohemian Cemetery.

1877

The lecture was held on January 7, 1877, and
the attendance was surprisingly large. This fact was
proof that there was a mighty public interest in this
matter. The speaker urged the audience to free them-
selves from the yoke of the church in all vital events
and especially in the matter of wedding and funeral
ceremonies. After the lecture those present resolved
to call a meeting of the presidents of all national
societies as soon as possible, with the object of found-

ing a Bohemian National Cemetery where any Bohe-
mian, regardless of creed, could be buried among his
fellow-countrymen without begging a priest for per-
missiQn. Everybody talked with great enthusiasm
about this plan but the difficulties and obstacles to
be overcome had not been foreseen.

At the next lecture, held January 21 at the same
place, a committee of three was elected, Messrs. Zdru-
be'k, John Dusek and M. Polacek, who were instruct-
ed to ask all Bohemian societies of Chicago to send
one delegate to the public meeting fixed for February
12. At this meeting the important question was to be
discussed thoroughly and its main points solved.

The meeting of February 12 was called to order
at 8 P. M. John Dusek was elected chairman and
F. B. Zdrubek recording secretary. Eighty delegates
were present, and all national societies except two
were represented. The names of delegates and so-
cieties which were ready to put their hands to work
were as follows:

1. John Morava, Bohemian-American Sokol
Society.

2. John Rajsler, Bohemian Workingmen's So-
kol Society.

3. John Beran, Workingmen's Benevolent So-
ciety Pokrok.

4. Mat. Karasek, Bohemian Workingmen's
Benevolent Society.

5. Martin Baumruker, Bohemian Tailors So-
ciety.

6. Procopius Hudek, Bohemian Military Com-
pany.

7. Jacob Padecky, Dramatic Society Thalia.

8. J. V. Benes and Jos. K. Sisler, Singing So-
ciety Lyra.

9. Vaclav Zabransky, Benevolent Society Jifi.

10. Joseph Matousek, Fire Aid Society.

11. Fr. Chlupsa, Bohemian Workingmen's So-
ciety Rovnost.

12. Henry Kohn, Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S.

13. Joseph Svojse, Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S.
P. S.

8

14. Vaclav Donat, Vernost Lodge No. 8 C. S.
P. S.

15. Thomas Cap, Slavonian Boh. Nat. Benevo-
lent Society.

16. Joseph Hodoval, St. John Society.

17. Martin Ruzicka, St. Procopius Benevolent
Society.

18. Vojt. Freml, St. Vaclav Benevolent Society.

19. Thomas Petrtyl, Freethirikers' Society.

20. Joseph Kostner, Sokol Gymnastic Associa-
tion.

The most important decision made at that meet-
ing was that all societies should found the cemetery
jointly and hold it in common as national property.
All agreed that the idea could not find sufficient sup-
port among the societies, if only one of them would
be the owner, and that it would be a constant cause
of quarrels.

Henry Kohn, delegate of the Praha Lodge C. S.
P. S., reported that the Grand Lodge of the State of
Illinois had secured 63 acres which were very suit-
able for a cemetery and would be willing to offer
them to the societies under the same conditions as it
had acquired them, without any profit, only with the
reservation that in case of persons not belonging to
any society the burial fees would be paid to the
Grand Lodge. The price per acre of that ground was
$550.00. This proposition did not meet the approval
of the delegates, whereupon Mr. Kohn reported that
the Grand Lodge decided that in case of unwilling-
ness of the delegates to take over the above men-
tioned piece of land it would give up its plan and
would co-operate with the other societies. This re-
port was accepted with great satisfaction and after a
longer debate the following resolutions were made :

1) A committee of three shall make investiga-
tions around the city and look for a suitable loca-
tion which could be bought for the Bohemian Ceme-
tery at a low price.

2) The members of this committee, Messrs. Fr.
Bedlan, Mat. Karasek and Stephen Sramek, shall re-
port to the next meeting called in two weeks.

9

3) All delegates shall meet Monday night, Feb-
ruary 26, at the same place, to hear the report and
to discuss what they shall recommend to their so-
cieties.

On February 26 the meeting was attended by 40
delegates. John Beran presented himself as a dele-
gate of the Bohemian Fraternal Society and was ac-
cepted. The committee announced that they took a
survey of three places together with the contractor
Mr. J. V. Benes in his carriage, and of the tracts of
land reported on the first, 110 acres lying west of the
township of Jefferson, 10 miles distant from the cen-
ter of the city, offered for $13,000— about $125 an
acre — met the general approval. There was a good
road to that place, with the exception of half a mile
which had to be bought out and built. At the meet-
ing it was resolved to concentrate all discussions on
this land, because the other two tracts were found
far less suitable. Finally a committee of five was elect-
ed, Messrs. Jos. Matousek, Proc. Hudek, Vojt. Freml,
Jos. Svojse and John Beran, to draw up a sketch of
the statutes of the Cemetery Association. The chair-
man and the secretary were requested to hold their
offices till the next meeting when new officers would
be elected.

On March 12, 1877, the following eight dele-
gates met to organize and found the Bohemian Na-
tional Cemetery Association:

1. Maurice Polacek, Sokol Gymnastic Associa-
tion.

2. Fr. Pracna, Bohemian Work. Benevolent So-
ciety.

3. Jos. Novak, Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S. P. S.

4. Jos. Dostal, Bohemian National Benevolent
Society.

5. Jos. Matousek, Fire Aid Society.

6. Voj. Freml, St. Procopius Benevolent Society.

7. Stephen Sramek, St. Vaclav Benevolent So-
ciety.

8. Proc. Hudek, Workingmen's Benevolent Poli-
tical Society Pokrok.

10

Several other societies sent letters, stating that
the delegates could not attend the meeting, but that
they were willing to co-operate.

Those at the meeting then agreed to organize
the Association, Frank Pracna was elected President
and Proc. Hudek Recording Secretary. It was re-
solved that the meetings of the National Cemetery
Association should be public, that everybody could
attend them, but the right to speak at meetings and
to vote was reserved to the delegates.

The delegates reported how much their societies
were willing to loan to the Association, and in this
way the amount of $1,325.00 was subscribed at this
first meeting. It was enacted that the eight dele-
gates present should form the committee of the Ceme-
tery Association and with the aid of a lawyer should
draw up the statutes of the Association and continue
in the work now begun.

As usual rumors began to circulate which tended
to belittle this national undertaking and to deter the
progress. These obstacles had to be removed again
and again for many months, but finally all calumnies
and suspicions were reduced to silence. The commit-
tee could lay stress upon the fact that the cemetery
would be a national undertaking, without profit to
anybody, only for the honor and benefit of the Bohe-
mian population of Chicago. Any emolument in the
future would belong only to the Bohemian people,
and the Association would be able to make dona-
tions for various Bohemian benevolent and education-
al purposes. It almost seems that the committee fore-
saw all those magnanimous donations of thousands
and thousands of dollars which later were actually
given by the Association to various Bohemian national
and educational institutions.

On April 11 the incorporation of the Association
was sanctioned by the State of Illinois, and in the
Charter of the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa-
tion are mentioned as trustees for the first year Joseph
Matousek, Joseph Novak and Stephen Sramek. From
the profits of the Association the charter specifies
the following purposes may be fostered: a) The edu-
cation of children of Bohemian descent, b) The or-

11

ganization and maintenance of a Bohemian library,
c) The organization and maintenance of a Home for
old people or other benevolent institutions. The char-
ter was signed by George H. Harlow, Secretary of
the State, at Springfield, 111., on April 11, 1877. The
certificate, dated April 7, was signed by Frank Prac-
na, St. Sramek, Jos. Dostal, Jos. Novak, Maurice Po-
lacek, Jos. Matousek and Albert Freml.

The above named Board of Trustees was elected
for a term of six months. Mat. Karasek was elected
President, Fr. Fencl Recording Secretary, Fr. Pracna
Financial Secretary and Jos. Dostal Treasurer.

The number of delegates increased to 16. New
delegates were as follows:

Fr. Fencl, Bohemian National Benevolent Society.

Fr. Pracna, Bohemian Work. Benevolent Society.

Fr. Bedlan, St. Vaclav Society.

John Beran, Work. Benev. Pol. Society Pokrok.

Jos. Sauer, Fire Aid Society.

Fr. Skalicky, Sokol Gymnastic Association.

Vaclav Kiehha, Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S. P. S.

The committee now visited various locations in
order to find a suitable place for the cemetery. Be-
sides the above mentioned lands various West Side
locations were investigated, especially Silverman's
grounds near Waldheim Cemetery, offered for $1,000
an acre, IV2 rniles from city limits, with a toll of 60
cents per carriage, and Hickinson's farm, 6 acres,
priced at §950.00 an acre, but both were too low to
make safe burial grounds. It seemed doubtful that
the committee would be able to find anything satis-
factory.

Towards the end of April Fr. Fencl was in-
structed to look for something on the North Side.
He learned from Mr. Hintz that Mr. Snell had sev-
eral pieces of land for sale on the North West Side.
Mr. Snell first showed him his grounds behind the
Bohemian-Polish Catholic Cemetery. The price was
$100 an acre. Mr. Fencl did not like them on ac-
count of the remote and disadvantageous location.
They went then to SnelTs lands near Crawford Ave-
nue, where Fr. Fencl took an option on a piece of
land, about 30 acres, for $200.00 an acre. He re-

12

ported it to Mr. Matousek, who with another mem-
ber of the committee called upon Mr. Snell who now
broke his promise and asked $250.00 an acre.

At the meeting of the Committee Mr. Fencl con-
demned Mr. Snell's faithlessness and promised to find
another place in the vicinity, for §200.00 an acre or
cheaper. With the help of Mr. Hintz such a place
was found. It measured 40 acres, east of Crawford
Avenue, and belonged to Martha and Frank Clybourn.
The prices was $7,500.00, under the condition that
simultaneously an added 10 acres must be bought
from August Ringel, at $250.00 and acre. It was a
wooded piece of land, which today forms the eastern
part of the cemetery.

A total of 50 acres had to be bought for $10,000
under the condition that no commission would be paid
to anybody. In June and July the transactions with
the lawyers were continued, the grounds were found
quite suitable, but the township of Jefferson was not
willing to permit any burials within its limits. Since
they had no cemetery of their own and buried their
dead in Chicago cemeteries, they opposed vehement-
ly any such actions and did everjrthing that their
lawyers advised to defeat the project.

The land was bought in May, and the lawyer for
the Committee suggested that one or two dead bodies
be buried in the cemetery, the sign "Bohemian Na-
tional Cemetery*' put up on the fence, and the legal
steps of the township awaited. It was not easy to
persuade anybody to consent to such a burial, be-
cause people feared that the township would compel
them to remove the body from the grave to another
cemetery. Finally the Committee succeeded in find-
ing willing families to whom it guaranteed compen-
sation for all expenses that might possibly be incurred.
On July 1, 1877, the first body, that of a child of
Chas. Brada, was buried there, the fence was pro-
vided with the cemetery sign, and on August 7 the
second burial took place, Anna, daughter of John
Bican, was interred there.

The township of Jefferson was waiting for its
opportunity and brought a legal suit against the trus-
tees. Hastily one more dead body was buried in the

13

cemetery, and then all burials were stopped until
the court could render a decision. The Cemetery
Association was represented by attorneys Charles
Leake and William Vocke. The case created a sen-
sation, because there was no precedent and the deci-
sion had to become a directive rule for all future
cases of this kind.

On October 16 Judge Williams passed judge-
ment which permitted burials in the cemetery by the
Association and gave to the township only the right
of police inspection. The lawyers' fees were $80.00
and the Association paid them gladly, because they
were well deserved.

By the deeds dated August 1, 1877, and signed
by Martha and Frank T. Clybourn, and by August
Ringel and Minnie Ringel resp., the Association be-
came legal owner of lots 23, 24, 25 and 28, 40 acres
for $7,500.00, and of lot 26, 10 acres, for $2,500.00.

The property bought with legal rights awarded
in this way consisted of 50 acres, situated in the
County of Cook, Township of Jefferson, 7 miles from
the courthouse of the City of Chicago, on Milwaukee
Avenue, Elston Road and Clybourn (today Crawford)
Avenue. The total cost was $10,000.00. Since Frank
Clybourn was a minor, the Association received only
a contract and a warranty deed, which was returned
after the final signing of the deeds on April 24, 1878.
The location of the cemetery between Bowmanville
and Jefferson on the Chicago River was excellent,
the grounds were high and covered with trees, the
road was good and the toll only 10 cents a carriage.
The neighbors themselves agreed to fill up and re-
pair the road from the bridge to the cemetery.

The first installment of $2,000.00 was paid
through the sale of the lowest 10 acres to Mr. Kara-
sek, who offered that amount, which was unanimous-
ly accepted by the delegates. It was not possible to
use that lowest part for burying, and the cemetery
needed only the higher wooded 30 acres. The re-
maining 10 acres could be improved and sold later.
Mr. Karasek paid $1,000.00 to the Association and
with amounts loaned by the societies (Bohemian Na-
tional Benevolent Society, $300; Workingmen's So-

14

ciety, $275; St. Vaclav Society, $295; Workingmen's
Society Pokrok, $300; Fire Aid Society, $50; Lodge
Rovnost, $50, and Sokol Gymnastic Association, $25,
totalling $1,295) there was sufficient money on hand
to pay the first installment as well as the first nec-
essary improvements. The St. Procopius Society did
not report any loan and ceased to send its delegate
to the meetings.

The Association issued a public notice to the
societies and individuals, asking for loans. The credi-
tors had to accept judgment notes for their loans
at the rate of 6% interest. As soon as the price for
the cemetery would be paid up, the loans were to
be repaid.

The cemetery affairs became now a constant sub-
ject of discussion at meetings of societies and private
debates. The Association had many enemies, and
the priests whose income was lessened by nonsecta-
rian funerals were not among least of these. While
it was impossible to deny the usefulness of the under-
taking, the probability of success somewhat was
doubtful, and with a great gusto all past co-operative
failures, especially the brick-yard, the banks, etc.,
were cited in order to sap the public confidence.

At the meeting of August 1, 1877, the following
officers were elected in accordance with the new
statutes: M. Karasek, President; F. Fencl, Record-
ing Secretary; F. Pracna, Financial Secretary; J. Do-
stal, Treasurer. Board of Trustees: J. Matousek, J.
Novak and Stephen Sramek. The loans by societies
amounted to $1,170.00.

On August 9, the ninth society became a mem-
ber of the Association, the Bohemian Tailors' Society,
which sent to the meeting Vaclav Stehlik and Jacob
Vavfinek as delegates and announced a loan of
$100.00. It was resolved to pay the first install-
ment of $2,000.00 on August 10 and the further in-
stallments as follows: $500 after 6 months, $800 after
9 months, $500 after 12 months and $500 after 18
months. On the unpaid balance the Association had
to pay 10% interest. M. Karasek who had paid the
first $1,000 promised to pay $500 after 9 and $500
after 18 months with 8% interest. A member of the

15

Board of Trustees, J. Novak, resigned. A commit-
tee of five wsiS appointed to ma'ke recommendations,
concerning the erection of a fence and the employ-
ment of a grave-digger.

At the meeting of August 16 the erection of the
fence was given to Mr. Sramek for 23c a foot, totalling
$260.72, and Mr. Jos. Lahvice v^as appointed grave-
digger v^ith a monthly salary of $25.00, from among
five applicants.

On August 24, the Palacky Lodge No. 630 I. O.
O. F. became member of the Association, v^ith V. Ka-
sparek and Fr. Novak as delegates.

On August 29, John Bernhardt and Jos. Trojan
were accepted as delegates of Bohemian Brethren
Society and brought a loan of $100.00.

The celebration of the official opening of the
Bohemian National Cemetery v^as held on Sunday,
September 2, and became a real national manifesta-
tion. 4,000 members of various societies took part
in a splendid procession which marched from De
Koven, Taylor and Canal Streets over the city to the
Northwestern depot, where the train of 25 cars left
at 9 A. M. At the Irving Park Station the proces-
sion again was formed and marched to the cemetery.
The celebration began at 1 P. M. The Singing So-
ciety Lyra opened it with a festival chorus. The
speaker of the day, Fr. B. Zdrubek, described the
hazardous beginnings of the cemetery and turned it
over officially to the Bohemian public. Capt. Hudek
also introduced the German General Lieb, who con-
gratulated the Bohemians of Chicago and expressed
his pleasure with the noteworthy celebration. The
celebration closed at 6:30, but dancing was continued
until late at the hall of the Sokol Gymnastic Associa-
tion. Next morning the celebration was very favor-
ably commented upon in the English dailies. The
pet proceeds were $600.00.

On September 7 Mr. Polacek as delegate of Sokol
Gymnastic Association was succeeded by Fr. Mencl.

On September 21 Fr. Pracna of the Working-
men's Society was succeeded by Henry Hajek and
Mr. Hudek by Fr. Ring.

16

The Association began to work with great en-
thusiasm on further improvements. The rules for
burials were laid down, a brick building for the
grave-digger was erected for $400, and the prices for
graves were fixed ; an adult grave $5.00 ; children
from 6 to 12 years, $3.50 ; children from 2 to 6 years,
$2.50, and infants, $1.50.

The first public funeral was held on November
1, and to the deceased, Mrs. Anna Hubacek, an espe-
cially beautiful place was reserved. Temporarily 10
acres were designated for burials. Contractor John
Benes drew up the plans for the division of the ceme-
tery free of charge.

From November 21 only delegates were admit-
ted to the meetings, because the public meetings did
not prove to meet the proper purpose and often were
only disturbed by non-delegates.

On October 31. Henry Hajek was elected Finan-
cial Secretary. Delegates Vac. Klenha and Vavfinek
who resigned were succeeded by Fr. Cilik and Fr.
Novy.

On December 5 new delegates of the Palacky
Lodge No. 630 I. O. O. F., Vac. Kaspar and J. V.
Benes brought a loan of $25.00. A temporary wooden
gate was erected, a gift of John Benes.

The troubles with the township of Jefferson did
not cease until after two years. Misusing their right
of police supervision, the citizens of Jefferson tried
to hinder any new interment. They used to send
their constable to the cemetery, and this officer
always arrested the grave-digger Lahvice and brought
him to the township jail. The committee finally
visited the township board with Mr. V. Kaspar who
deposited a big bond for the grave-digger in order
to stop the molestations, but only after two years
when the appeal of the township was rejected as
groundless, did the Association get rid of all troubles
and enjoy a permanent peace.

17

1878

The financial report for the period from August
1, 1877, to the end of 1877 showed receipts $4,685.36,
disbursements $3,228.50, net balance $1,456.56. There
were 26 graves in the cemetery, of these 3 were given
free of charge and for the rest $56.00 was paid. Do-
nations collected by Messrs. Stehlik, Fencl, Karasek,
Beran, Trojan, Sauer, Ring, Novak, Sramek, Bedlan,
Hajek and Skalicky amounted to $664.35.

The direct receipts from the cemetery still be-
ing so low that they did not even cover the salary
of the grave-digger, further loans from societies were
necessary. Many necessary expenses developed. The
most urgent matters were to divide the cemetery into
lots, the sale of which would bring the necessary in-
come, to make a regular fence, to survey the land,
to fell the obstructing trees, to improve the roads,
etc., and on February 1 the second installment was
due. Fortunately the societies, asked for loans, did
not fail in their obligations and at the end of the first
semester the following loans were made by societies
and individuals:

Work. Benev. Pol. Society Pokrok $ 422.86

Boh. Nat. Benev. Society 528.88

Mor. Slav. Benev. Society 200.00

Palacky Lodge No. 630 I. O. O. F 127.77

Singing Society Lyra 100.00

Bohem. Brethren Society 158.37

Vernost Lodge No. 8 C. S. P. S 150.00

St. Vaclav Society 422.85

Jungmann Lodge No. 20 C. S. P. S 50.00

Boh. Tailors' Society 417.45

Sokol Gymnastic Association 26.69

Fire Aid Society 130.00

Rovnost Lodge No. 14 C. S. P. S 105.65

Work. Benev. Society 449.25

Jif i Podebradsky Lodge No. 24 C. S. P. S. . . 50.00

Wor'kingmen's Society 75.00

Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S 50.00

Fr. Pokorny 200.00

Mat. Valis 150.00

Jos. Houda 150.00

18

Vac. Placek 310.00

Vac. Matas 50.00

Jos. Chudy 200.00

Mart. Volf 516.00

Mat. Blazek 200.00

Jos. Engelthaler 150.00

$5,390.77

At the end of this year the loans increased to
$5,400.00 and the donations to $700.00. When in
the second part of the year the sale of lots began,
the financial situation improved considerably. Mr. J.
Benes was intrusted with tracing the plans of the
cemetery, which was a preliminary requirement for
the division into lots. On January 17 the second in-
stallment was paid, with interest amounting altogeth-
er to $1,781.85.

On February 20 a committee of five was elected
to draw up the statutes of the Association, formulate
cemetery rules, prescribe the duties of the grave-dig-
ger and enact rules of order for the meetings. The
members of the committee were Fr. Mencl, Fr. Ring,
John Reran, St. Sramek and Fr. Cilik. The statutes
of the Association and the cemetery rules as well as
the duties of the grave-digger were approved at the
meeting of March 20. According to these new
statutes any national society may become a member
of the Cemetery Association after furnishing a five
year loan of $50.00 and is entitled to two delegates.
It was also enacted that every charter member of the
Association shall be entitled after the expiration of
his term to attend meetings, make motions and vote
at the semiannual meetings as well as to audit the
books and bills. Further it was resolved to register
the names of all delegates in a special memorial book
as a permanent remembrance.

On March 13 it was resolved to begin the sale
of lots, and the prices were fixed at from $10.00 to
$30.00. This price could be reduced as much as
one half in cases of poor families or widows. In the
year of 1878 such a reduction was granted in three
cases.

19

R. Spikings, an old settler of that vicinity, was
appointed road-maker. He promised that he would
guarantee the work for a whole year. Felling of the
trees was not connected with any special expense,
as the trees were given to the laborers in compensa-
tion for their work. The main road was to cost 2y2C
a square foot.

The lawyer William Vocke informed the Asso-
ciation that his bill for the cemetery law-suit would
be $500.00, but a specially appointed committee suc-
ceeded in bringing it down to $250.00.

In April a new fence, six feet high, was erected
around the cemetery, Rovnost Lodge sent Chas. No-
vak and Fr. Cilik as delegates and Jos. Matousek was
reappointed by the Fire Aid Society.

When surveying the cemetery V. J. Benes left
three vacant spaces on the main roads for the future
decoration of the cemetery by public monuments
which, of course, were long delayed on account of
the modest means of the Association. One of these
spaces is today taken up by flower displays, the sec-
ond is occupied by KlaceFs monument and the third
by the Civil War Soldiers' Monument.

On May 1 the first annual meeting was held.
Jos. Matousek was elected President; John Benes,
Vice-President; Fr. Fencl, Recording Secretary; Henry
Hajek, Financial Secretary; Jos. Dostal, Treasurer;
Ant. Havlfk, Agent; J. V. Benes, Cemetery Superin-
tendent; Fr. Bedlan, Vac. Stehllk and Vac. Sejk,
Members of the Board of Trustees. J. Benes, Jos.
Slach and Fr. Ring as Auditing Committee reported
favorably at the next meeting. Weekly meetings
were changed to fortnightly meetings. Receipts from
January 9 to May 1, 1878, were $4,065.21; disburse-
ments $3,500.52; treasurer's balance, $564.69. The
receipts for 49 new graves were $104.00; 8 lots were
sold for $90.00. The receipts of the first year there-
fore were $8,750.57, disbursements $6,729.02. Dur-
ing the first years 65 graves and 8 lots were sold.

The worst difficulties of the first years were
overcome. Now the most urgent needs were a large
vault, solid and dry, for keeping of coffins when frost
or other causes did not allow the digging of graves,

20

and a well to supply water for the watering of graves,
which were now pretily arranged and planted with
flowers. The road-maker Spikings also insisted on
making a ditch for draining of roads after rains.

For the vault the plans and estimates of J. V.
Benes were accepted and the first Sunday in August,
the day of the second Annual Celebration, was chosen
for the laying of foundations for the vault. For the
building of the vault the lowest bid of A. Holpuch
was accepted, but later the construction was given to
Mr. Benes when Mr. Holpuch could not make several
changes asked by the Committee and Mr. Benes of-
fered to the Association his supervision if it would
buy all materials and pay for all work the prices he
would have to pay himself. Mr. Benes did not charge
anything for the supervision and even donated to the
cemetery the price reductions which he received on
the purchase of material.

New members admitted on July 17 were: Vernost
Lodge No. 8 C. S. P. S. with Fr. Vytlacil and Ign.
Novak as delegates; Lodge Jiff Podebradsky No. 24
C. S. P. S., with Jos. Vistein and Vac. Paara as dele-
gates; Palacky Lodge No. 63 L O. O. F., with Ant.
Kanak as delegate.

The Foundation-Stone Celebration was held on
July 21 at the cemetery. It was again a big national
affair, over 30 societies marched in the procession,
with Capt. Hudek as Marshall. Joseph Matousek,
President of the Association, was introduced by Vac.
Stehlik and delivered the introductory speech, then
the Singing Society Lyra sang, Fr. B. Zdrubek, the
speaker of the day, delivered his speech, and finally
the memorial documents of individual societies were
put in a box which was sealed into the foundation
stone. The celebration was continued in the neigh-
boring garden of Mr. Karase'k where the participants
remained till night. The net proceeds were only
$571.12 on account of an insufficient supply of bev-
erages.

On August 21 new delegates succeeded their
predecessors, M. Hanzlik from Fire Aid Society and
V. Slapak from Vernost Lodge.

21

St. Vaclav Society having accused Mr. Bedlan of
certain irregularities, the Association which found all
accusations to be groundless called a public meeting
on September 22 at the Sokol hall where a detailed
financial report was presented to the public and the
delegates of all 12 societies forming the Association
cleared all doubts.

In September and October new delegates were
appointed by the Work. Benev. Society (John Nikl),.
Jungmann Lodge No. 20 C. S. P. S. (Alois Broz and
Vine. Dlouhy) and Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S.
(Jos. Fiser and Aug. Loula).

On November 6 Jos. Matousek, who was appoint-
ed with Ant. Kafiak and Jos. Slach to visit all lodges
and societies, to reassure them that their loans were
not in any danger and to ask them for further aid, re-
ported that he was heard everywhere with the utmost
consideration.

A final report, placing cost of the vault at
$828.12, was approved.

From May 1 to December 21, 1878, receipts were
$3,184.44, disbursements $2,983.93, balance $200.51.
112 graves were dug for which $200.50 was paid.
60 lots were sold for which $626.00 was paid in
cash, with some balance still due. To the end of the
year 187 dead were buried in the cemetery.

1879

The Association began to discuss the question
of paying off the first mortgage by means of new
loans whereby the debt would be transferred into
Bohemian hands. An appeal to the societies was
published in Bohemian newspapers to this effect.

On February 26 President Matousek announced
that the lawsuit of the township of Jefferson vs. the
Bohemian National Cemetery Association had result-
ed in the complete victory of the Association. The
decision Ol the Appelate Court, signed on March 2^
1880, by Judges Joseph M. Bayley, Issac G. Wilson
and W. K. McAllister, dismissed the plaintiff's com-
plaint.

22

On March 12 new delegates were announced,
John Vavruska from Praha Lodge No. 13 C. S. P. S.
and Vac. Nekola from St. Vaclav Society.

On March 17, at a special meeting, held for the
purpose of receiving new loans, Mr. V. Silhanek of-
fered a loan of $2,000 for 18 months at 7%. In addi-
tion Vac. Matas loaned $300, Al. Broz, $175; Work.
Benev. Society Pokrok, $100; Fire Aid Society, $100;
Bohem. Brethren, $70; M. Wolf, $300; Boh. Nat. So-
ciety, $100; Vernost Lodge, $200; Fr. Pelikan, $200;
Jacob Jordan, $150; Mrs. Anna Firman, $100; A. Po-
pelka, $50; Jos. Trojan, $300; Moravian Benev. So-
ciety, $50; V. Topinka, $500; Jos. Houda, $200;
Boh. Work. Society, $200; Palacky Lodge, $100, and
Mr. Engelthaler, $100. With these amounts the first
mortgage of $4,500 could be paid off and transferred
upon 25 acres for the loan of $2,000, made by V.
Silhanek. It was also resolved to sell those 10 acres
not connected with the cemetery.

The troubles with the township of Jefferson were
revived by a new law-suit as the township was not
satisfied with the court's decision.

A new gate being needed badly, the Ladies'
Societies were requested to make a collection for this
purpose.

In April the following new delegates were ad-
mitted: V. Tejcek, Rovnost Lodge; Ant. Prusa, Jifi
Podebradsky Lodge; John Pajml, Work. Society Po-
krok; Tom. Kosatka, Boh. Tailors' Society; Fr. Bed-
Ian, St. Vaclav Society; Fr. Pretl, Praha Lodge; John
Nikl and Fr. Pecha, Work. Benev. Society; Vac.
Topinka, Palacky Lodge; Jos. Matousek and Proc.
Fiser, Fire Aid Society, and Fr. Pelikan, Nat. Benev.
Society.

On May 7, 1879, the second annual meeting w^as
held. Jos. Matousek was re-elected President; Vac.
Matas, Vice-President; Fr. Pech, Recording Secre-
tary; M. Wolf, Vac. Tejcek and Fr. Mencl, Board of
Trustees. J. V. Benes was requested to retain his
office of Cemetery Superintendent. From January
1 to May 7 receipts were $6,344.01 ; disbursements,
$6,185.42; cash balance, $158.59.

The question of correct bookkeeping had for a

23

long time been very troublesome. The differences
were very small, but sufficient enough to arouse new
complaints repeatedly. Finally it was necessary to-
depose the Financial Secretary, Henry Hajek, and a
new one was elected in the person of Fr. VytlaciL
The new officer found that the differences caused
by Hajek and by Bedlan at whose home the office
of the Financial Secretary was located and who
sometimes accepted money, made together about
$19.00. It was truly a small amount, but in conse-
quence of Mr. Bedlan's obstinacy the meetings were
bothered by these disorders till February 25, 1880.
In the meantime the Sokol Gymnastic Association sent
a new delegate, Vac. Rezanka, instead of Mr. Hajek
and St. Vaclav Society was requested also to send
another delegate instead of Mr. Bedlan to whose in-
accuracy the final difference of $15 was ascribed.
The Association never received it, because it was too
small an amount to bring suit for.

For the new gate the following amounts were
donated: Vlasta No. 1, $35; Vlasta No. 2, $48.60,
collected by the members among the public, and Pre-
myslovna Lodge No. 5 J. C. D., $10.00.

On May 21 the President announced that Mr.
Karasek paid the last installment of $500.00 with
interest for the 10 acres, sold to him. He also signed
a document which stated that the rear road to the
cemetery belonged to the Association which had in-
demnified him for that part of his property which
was necessary for the road.

On June 4 Fr. Mencl resigned from the Board
of Trustees and Fr. Pretl was elected to fill the va-
cancy. On July 16 the delegate of Praha Lodge,.
Vavruska, was replaced by John Kotek.

The annual celebrations at the cemetery began
to be very popular among the Bohemians of Chica-
go and a very important source of revenue for the
Association. The third celebration, connected again
as usual with a picnic in the neighboring garden of
Mr. Karasek, was held on August 10.

On August 20 it was resolved to begin with re-
deeming the loans of individuals; the loans of socie-
ties had to be postponed for a later time. That

24

meant that the bad days of financial troubles were
^one.

In August and September new delegates were
admitted: Phil. Novak, St. Vaclav Society; Ant.
Fiala, Mor. Slav. Benev. Society; John Baumrucker
and Ign. Kouba, Jifi Podebradsky Lodge.

The action brought against the Association by
the township of Jefferson ended in March 1880 with
victory for the Association, but it was necessary to
pay $200.00 to attorneys Vocke and Leak and later
give them $50.00 more, because the township again
tried to save its cause by appeal.

Poor fellow-countrymen always had been buried
free of charge, but in order to avoid any misuse of
this favor it was resolved that in all such cases a
ticket had to be secured from the Board of Trustees
and shown to the grave-digger.

On September 24 it was reported that through
the mediation of Mr. Ad. B. Chladek the tax from
the cemetery property was remitted and in the future
the cemetery would be exempt from state taxes. It
was resolved to express public thanks to Mr. Chla-
dek for this great service.

On November 5 Osveta Lodge No. 27 C. S. P. S.
iDecame a member with a five year loan of $50.00; its
delegates were Chas. Drabek and Ign. Kuta. On
December 17 Lodge Pravda No. 37 C. S. P. S. follow-
ed with the same loan and appointed Jos. Base and
Mat. Matousek as delegates. Other newly admitted
delegates were Vac. Chmatal (Boh. Nat. Society)
and John Vondra and Jac. Cerny (Jifi Podebradsky
Lodge). At the last December meeting the death of
John Nikl, delegate of Work. Benev. Society and
former Recording Secretary of the Association, was
reported. A resolution of sympathy was sent to the
family. Phil. Novak became his successor.

1880

In January a new delegate of Cesko-Narodni
Lodge No. 58 C. S. P. S. (formerly Boh. Nat. Benev.
Society) Proc. Hudek was announced. On January
31 a ball was given by the Association at the hall of

25

tlu' Boh. Amer. Sokol offered free of charge for this,
purpose, because the net proceeds were destined for
the new cemetery gate. They amounted to $112.00.
Another new delegate admitted in this month was
John Rajzler (Boh. Work. Benev. Society).

In February St. Vaclav Society replaced the re-
voked Fr. Bedlan by John Bambula as its delegate.
On February 25 Kip Lodge No. 41 C. S. P. S. became
a member with the usual loan, its delegates were Vac.
Mlynafik and Mat. Kolaf.

On March 24 Bohemian American Sokol became
a member, with John Churafi and Tom. Bilek as
delegates. Other new delegates were Florian Otra-
dovsky (Vernost Lodge) and Alois Melkus (Mor.
Slav. Benev. Society).

On April 7 Obcansky fi-ad No. 2 became a mem-
ber, with Fr. Kvapil and Jos. Jankovsky as delegates.
Other new delegates v/ere: Fr. Fiser (Rovnost
Lodge) and Vac. Husak (Cesko-Narodni Lodge). On
April 21 Otakar Lodge No. 78, Knights of Pythias,
became a member, with Fr. Rothbauer and Vojt. Sil-
hanek as delegates; John Sindelaf, delegate of Hip
Lodge, and John Tichy, delegate of Osveta Lodge^
were also admitted.

On May 5 the third annual meeting was held.
Jos. Matousek was elected President; Vac. Matas,
Vice-President; Fr. Pech, Recording Secretary; To-
mas Kosatka, Financial Secretary; Vojta Silhanek,
Treasurer; Fr. Rothbauer, Fr. Kvapil and John Kotek,
Board of Trustees; Fr. Ring, Jos. Rothbauer and
Flor. Otradovsky, Auditing Committee; Simon Han-
zlik. Agent; J. V. Benes, Cemetery Superintendent.
Receipts during the past half-year were $1,770.59;
disbursements $1,326.97; cash balance $443.62.

New delegates were announced: Jos. Trojan and
John Bernhart from Bohemian Brethren; Jos. Roth-
bauer from Palacky Lodge; Simon Hanzlik from
Pravda Lodge; John Kolaf from St. Vaclav Society;
Jos. Bubrdle from Cesko-Delnicky Lodge No. 16 C. S.
P. S. (formerly Boh. Work. Benev. Society).

On May 19 Obcansky Rad No. 9 became a mem-
ber and Mr. Pech, having resigned, Flor. Otradov-
sky was elected Recording Secretary. On June 16

26

Mr. F. Rothbauer resigned and John Churaii was
elected member of the Board of Trustees in his stead.
Work. Benev. Polit. Society Pokrok announced V.
Vondracek as its new delegate.

It was resolved to rent 10 acres outside the
cemetery free of charge to anyone who would culti-
vate this land and take care of it. A contract to
this effect was made with Mr. Karasek.

The building of the gate was given to Mr. J. V.
Benes in recognition of his many services furnished
free of charge. His offer was $1,480 (Mr. Kralovec's
$1,445 and Mr. Otradovec's $1,500).

On June 30 new delegates were announced by
liip Lodge, Vac. Matejka and Jos. Hajek.

The annual celebration of this year required a
special interview by Mr. Alois Pergler with the rail-
road management which was not willing to send out
two return trains in the evening, but the desired
agreement was finally reached.

On July 14 Vysehrad Lodge No. 48 C. S. P. S.
became a member, with Petr Podzimek and John
Kuttan as delegates; other new delegates were Ant.
Kozel and John Chleboun (Jiri Podebradsky Lodge) ;
Mart. Baumruker (Vernost Lodge) ; in August J.
Martinek (Sokol Gymn. Assn.), and Em. A. Haas
and V. Tejcek (Rovnost Lodge).

St. Vaclav Society disbanded, because it lost its
school building which was adjudged by the court to
the priest as church property. The Association which
held its meetings in that school had to look for a
new meeting place. First the hall of American Sokol
at De Koven St. was rented, but when it was found
unsatisfactory, the Association moved to the hall of
Sokol Gym^n. Association at Pilsen.

Vaclav Obcansky Rad No. 23, formed from the
disbanded St. Vaclav Society, became a member
(delegates Jos. Hrubec and Fr. Rezek), as well as
Lincoln Lodge No. 52 C. S. P. S. (delegates Fr. Dvo-
rak and Vac. Sticha) and Bohemian Sharpshooters
No. 1 (delegates John Hanzlik and Norb. Kfenek).
A new delegate, Vac. Kuchynka, was announced by
the Bohemian Tailors^ Society. Other new delegates
were admitted : Fr. Prochazka from Vysehrad

27

Lodge ; Thomas Kalas from Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Ludv.
Novy from Obcansky Rad No. 9 and John Vrba from
Osveta Lodge; the Work. Benev. Polit. Society Po-^
krok changed its name to Pokrok Lodge No. 65 C.
S. P. S.

Several changes occurred also in the Committee :
Fl. Otradovsky resigned and Vac. Kuchyfika was
elected Recording Secretary on September 22. V.
Matas resigned and Fr. Rothbauer was appointed his
successor by the president. Fr. Fisher was elected
to the Board of Trustees to replace John Churafi.
The attendance at meetings began to slacken, there-
fore all societies were requested to admonish the
delegates to fulfill their duties. Only during the
winter months the more remote societies were re^
lieved in the sense that instead of both delegates
only one was obliged to attend the meetings.

The semiannual financial report on October 20
was as follows: receipts, $4,719.76; disbursements,
$4,174.40; cash balance, $545.36.

The desirability of a Memorial Book was dis-
cussed, and Mr. Bernhard promised to bring such a
book as a gift of the Bohemian Brethren. The new
gate was reported finished on November 17 and the
payment of the balance due was recommended.

In December the following new delegates were
announced: Mart. Jensik (Obcansky Had No. 2);
Vac. Ludvik (Mor. Slav. Benev. Society) ; John Nerad
(Cesko-Delnicky Lodge) ; Jos. Jankovsky and Fr.
Ring (Pokrok Lodge) ; Fr. Lahvic (Boh. Sharpshoot-
ers No. 1) ; Thom. Kamis (Cesko-Narodnf Lodge) ;
Jos. Smrcina and John Novotny (Jungmann Lodge) ;
John Mencl (Vysehrad Lodge).

1881

New January delegates were as follows: Fr.
Hess (Pravda Lodge) ; Fr. Fiser (Vernost Lodge) ;
Fr. Kolaf (Jifi Podebradsky Lodge) ; Ant. Vesecky
(Lincoln Lodge).

At the meeting of February 9 the Memorial
Book, dedicated by the Bohemian Brethren Society,.
was presented. First it was resolved to ask Mr. Fencl

28

as charter member to describe the history of the
Association from the beginning in the book, but later
a committee was elected, Jos. Matousek, Thom. Ko-
satka and Em. Haase who were instructed to ask
Mr. Frank B. Zdrubek to write such a history and to
preserve it in this Memorial Book for all future
times.

The Association now had sufficient sources of
new finances, and therefore it was resolved that after
January 1, 1882, only 5/f interest should be paid and
new loans accepted only at the same rate of interest.

On April 6 a helper for the grave-digger, whose
work had been considerably increased, was approved.
His son was appointed at a salary of $1.50 a day.
New delegates were admitted: Vac. Ksandr (Cesko-
Narodni Lodge) and Jos. Kfist'an (Osveta Lodge).

On April 20 the superintendent, Mr. Benes, re-
ported that the first private tomb, for the Kalal fam-
ily, was to be built. The Committee instructed him
to draft an appropriate article which would be adopt-
ed by the Association as a part of the statutes. New
delegates were admitted: John Benes and V. Bartos
(Cesko-Delnicky Lodge) ; Proc. Hudek and Jos. Strobl
(Pokrok Lodge No. 65); Ant. Kouba (Mor. Slav.
Benev. Society).

On May 4 at the fourth annual meeting the fol-
lowing officers were elected: Jos. Matousek, Presi-
dent; Vac. Topinka, Vice-President; Em. Haase, Rec.
Secretary; Proc. Hudek, Financial Secretary; Vaclav
Ksander, Treasurer; Fr. Fiser, Jos. Jakubka and
Vaclav Tesaf, Board of Trustees. The receipts
from November 3, 1880, to May 4, 1881, were
$2,880.61, disbursements $2,502.86, cash balance
$377.75. The salary of Mr. Lahvice, the grave-digger,
was raised to $30.00 a month. The following societies
sent new delegates: Palacky Lodge — V. Topinka;
Obcansky Rad No. 2 — J. Holpuch ; Sokol Gymn. Asso-
ciation— Vac. Matejka; Obc. fiad No. 9 — Phil. Novak;
Otakar Lodge No. 78, K. of P. — Alois Palda; Boh.
Brethren — John Bernhardt and Jos. Trojan; Praha
Lodge No. 13 — Jos. Jakubka; Jungmann Lodge No.
20 — Jos. Smrcina and Fr. Novotny.

Many improvements were made at the cemetery,

29

and for Sundays and Mondays a policeman from Jef-
ferson township was hired to protect the cemetery
against loafers.

Upon motion of Rovnost Lodge the question of a
salary for the recording and financial secretary was
discussed. Both served up to that time without any
compensation, but now their work was taking so
much time that compensation was only just. Finally
on December 28 the salary of the recording secre-
tary was fixed at $50.00, of the financial secretary
also at $50.00 and of the treasurer at $30.00 a year.
Further it was resolved that the members of the
Board of Trustees shall receive $2.50 for every trip
to the cemetery. After this enactment the fin. secre-
tary Hudek, the treasurer Ksandr and Fr. Fiser of
the Board of Trustees declared that they would serve
to the end of their terms free of charge and their
offfer was accepted by the Association with thanks.

In June and July the following societies sent new
delegates: Boh. Brethren — John Palma; Boh. Sharp-
shooters— Proc. Hudek and Chas. Raus; Osveta Lodge
No. 27 — Chas. Drabek; Boh. Tailors' Society — Vac.
Stehlik.

The annual celebration held on Sunday July 31
at Karasek's garden met with unusual success. About
7,000 persons were at the cemetery and in the gar-
den, the net proceeds were $1,924.11, from which
some of the oldest loans were paid.

V. Tesaf and Jos. Jakubka who resigned from
the Board of Trustees were succeeded by Jos. Kfist'an
and Thom. Kamis, the third member, V. Matejka, re-
tained his office. From October to the end of the
year the following new delegates were admitted :
John Brejcha — Praha Lodge No. 13; Alois Cinkl — Ob-
cansky Kad No. 23; St. Sramek — Fire Aid Society;
Chas. Libal — Rip Lodge No. 41 ; Rufin Jirsa and Vac.
Hopp — Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Fr. Masa — Pokrok Lodge
No. 65; Vac. Klima and Jos. Kaisler — Obcansky ftad
No. 2; Fr. Svatek — Jungmann Lodge No. 20; Andrew
Kubes and John Skopec — Jifi Podebradsky Lodge
No. 24 ; Chas. Soldat and Fr. Suk — Lincoln Lodge No.
52; Jacob Struhadlo — Vysehrad Lodge No. 48; John
Vejrostek — Obcansky Rad No. 2; Jos. Tolar — Boh.
Work. Society.

30

1882

In the first three months of this year the follow-
ing new delegates were admitted: Jacob Cerny — Jifi
Podebradsky Lodge No. 24; Caspar Cerny — Otakar
Lodge, K. of P.; Jacob Koupal — Praha Lodge; J. V.
Matejka and Fr. Mencl — Sokol Gymn. Assn.; Ruf.
Jirsa and Vac. Hopp — Boh. Amer. Sokol; Jos. Cinkl —
Fire Aid Society; Wm. Vogel — Vernost Lodge; Chas.
Soldat and Fr. Suk — Lincoln Lodge; F. Lahvic — Rip
Lodge; Fr. Fiser — Vernost Lodge; Mart. Jensik —
Obc. Rad No. 2; Edw. Ilezanka^-Sokol Gymn. Assn.;
Ant. Uhlif and Jos. Spousta — Vernost Lodge ; F. Dvo-
rak— Praha Lodge; Mat. Shanel and Vojt. Janecek —
Osveta Lodge. Two loans were paid, Singing Society
Lyra $50.00 and Osveta Lodge $300.00 and two new
loans were accepted, Palacky Lodge No. 630 L O. O.
F., $200.00, and Otakar Lodge, K. of P., $200.00.

In the spring the roads to the cemetery being
almost impassable, an agreement was made with the
township of Jefferson which asked for one third of
the amount required for improvement. This amount
of $300.17 was approved.

In April and May the following societies sent
new delegates: Palacky Lodge — Jos. Base; Ces.-Na-
rodni Lodge No. 58 — Chas. Lusk; Rovnost Lodge —
Fr. Fiser; Otakar Lodge — J. Vodicka; Vaclav Lodge
— Fr. Novak; Pokrok Lodge — Chas. Jankovsky; Ver-
nost Lodge — Flor. Otradovsky; Jungmann^ Lodge —
Jos. Ruze; Obc. Rad No. 2 — John Pavel; Ces.-Delni-
cky Lodge No. 73 — John Hamza.

The fifth annual meeting was held on May 3.
Jos. Matousek was elected President; Vac. Topinka,
Vice-President; Em. A. Haase, Rec. Secretary; Proc.
Hudek, Fin. Secretary; Ant. Kouba, Treasurer; Thom.
Kamis, Fr. Fiser and Jos. Vodicka, Board of Trustees.
Receipts of the past year were $5,626.13, disburse-
ments $5,324.26. 84 lots were sold for $2,760.00;
491 persons were buried. Loans paid amounted to
$2,830.00. Thus the Association had debts of only
$225.00 to individuals and $5,350.00 to societies.

On May 31 upon motion of Chas. Lusk a bell
was bought for the small steeple above the cemetery
gate.

31

For the summertime a policeman was engaged
from the township of Jefferson which appointed the
grave-digger, Mr. Lahvice, and vested him with the
right of arresting disturbers of the peace.

The annual celebration was marred by a bad all-
day rain.

From June to September the following new dele-
gates were admitted: Jos. Chaloupka — Praha Lodge;
Fr. Kaspar — Boh. Amer. Sokol; Jos. Kubal — Obc.
Kad No. 2; Jos. Popelka and J. Sima — Jifi Podebrad-
sky Lodge; John Chochola — Boh. Tailors' Society;
Fr. Riha^ — Jungmann Lodge; Jos. Mandl — Vysehrad
Lodge] Fr. Gerhard — Praha Lodge; Jos. Plachetka —
Obc. Rad No. 2; George Nikodem — Pravda Lodge;
Vacy Puc— Obc. Md No. 23; Fr. Pavlicek— Boh.
Sharpshooters; Vac. Smidl resigned as delegate of
the Obcansky Rad No. 9 which disbanded.

Lincoln Lodge No. 52 C. S. P. S. held a ball on
September 30 for the benefit of a national monu-
ment at the cemetery. The net proceeds of $100.00
were deposited in the bank for future use.

On October 18 it was resolved not to bury in the
cemetery any person who died of small-pox.

Upon request of Mr. Jos. Dostal the Associa-
tion instructed the recording secretary to draft a
memorandum of confidence in Mr. DostaFs correct
and honest actions and to send it to his society.

On November 1 A. Kouba resigned and Jos. Base
was elected treasurer. Proc. Hudek also resigned and
George Nikodem was elected financial secretary. The
society Obcansky Rad No. 2 was officially informed
that its delegate Vac. Klima had been expelled on
account of his infamous public utterances about the
recording secretary and the entire Association.

On November 15 a comm.ittee of four, Jos. Ma-
tousek, Chas. D. Lusk, Jos. Fucik and George Niko-
dem, was elected to draft the necessary amendments
to the statutes. These amendments were adopted
after the third reading on March 21, 1883.

Lawyer Lusk who was appointed for all neces-
sary notarial services resigned as member of the Asso-
ciation. The last of the new delegates admitted in
this year were: Fr. Capouch and John Mencl — Vyse-

32

JOHN PECHA

The present President of the Bohemian National Ceme-
tery Association, holding this office
already for 30 years

Officers of the Bohemian National Cemetery Association

Stan. Simecek, Vice-Pres. ; Victor H. Filip, Sec'y;
Jos. Jurka, Treas.

The Board of Trustees of the Bohemian National
Cemetery Association

Jar. Bartos
Jos. Siman Fr. Boucek

Bookkeepers of the Bohemian National Cemetery

John Kozak

Jar. Gregor

Jos. Hroch

Editorial Committee of the "History of the Boh. Nat.
Cemetery"

Stan. Simecek

Chas. Kopecky

J. J. Jelinek

DR. JAR. E. S. VOJAN

Author of the English version cf the "History of the
Boh. Nat. Cemetery."

hrad Lodge; Mart. Kuchaf and Fr. Davidek — Lincoln
Lodge; Jos. Rezny and Fr. Riha — Jungmann Lodge;
Fr. Svatos and Jos. Soukup — Praha Lodge; Thorn.
Kosatka — Boh. Tailors' Society; Jacob Prepejchal —
Mor. Slav. Benev. Society.

1883

On January 1883 Vernost Lodge announced Mr.
Fr. Mencl as its delegate. Since he was already dele-
gate of another society, Vernost Lodge was informed
that the statutes do not allow two or more societies
to be represented by the same delegate and that
therefore the lodge had to elect another delegate. —
New delegates: Fr. Ring and Ant. Fiala — Pokrok
Lodge; Jos. Dostal — Ces.-Narodni Lodge; John Beran
— Obc. Rad No. 2; Fr. Pavlicek and J. Krasa — Boh.
Sharpshooters.

The sixth annual meeting was held on May 2.
Jos. Matousek was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-
President; Em. A. Haase, Recording Secretary;
George Nikodem, Financial Secretary; Jos. Base,
Treasurer; Fr. Hess, Jos. Dostal and Jos. Cinkl, Board
of Trustees. Mr. J. V. Benes retained willingly the
office of cemetery superintendent. Receipts for the
past year were $5,122.12 and disbursements $4,493.91.

A fireproof safe was bought for $180.00 for
keeping all books, papers and documents of the Asso-
ciation in safety. Clock-maker Mr. Steffek donated
a fine clock ajid Hubka Brothers a picture for the
office. Both gifts were accepted with thanks.

The net proceeds of the annual celebration held
on July 29 were $1,897.95.

On August 22 $1,704.53 was paid on the loans
of societies with interest.

On October 3 Vac. Topinka was elected tempo-
rary treasurer, because Mr. Base resigned and moved
to Wisconsin.

First donations in accordance with the statutes
were voted on December 12, $100.00 for the Bunker
Street School and $100.00 for the 18th Street School.

The semiannual financial report showed a cash
balance of $1,728.82 (receipts $3,991.36, disburse-
ments $2,262.54).

33

New delegates: Mat. Dusek — Vernost Lodge;
Ant. Kubes and John Pavek — Jifi Podebradsky
Lodge; Norb. Kfenek and Vac. Drz — Boh. Shrap-
shooters; Vac. Matas — Vysehrad Lodge; Fr. Mencl
and E. A. Haase — ^Sokol Gymn. Assn. ; Ant. Dundl —
Jungmann Lodge; John Peroutka — Kip Lodge; Jos.
Matousek — Palacky Lodge ; Gasp. Cerny — Otakar
Lodge, K. of P.; F. C. Matasek — Rovnost Lodge; Jos.
Cinkl and V. Topinka — Fire Aid Society; Mart. Lud-
vik and Jos. Tomek — Boh. Tailors' Society; Ferd.
Reis and Vaclav Kouba — Mor. Slav. Benev. Society;
Ant. Potucek — Ces.-Narodni Lodge; Vac. Seyk — Po-
krok Lodge ; John Pecha — Vysehrad Lodge ; Jos. Kost-
ner — Palacky Lodge; Fr. Bilek and Fr. Pancner —
Lincoln Lodge; Ant. Kubes and Fr. Cimanzl — Jifi Po-
debradsky Lodge; Al. Straka — Boh. Tailors' Society.

1884

Klacel Monument Association which was organ-
ized to erect a monument at the Bohemian National
Cemetery to Prof. Ladimir Klacel, the great pioneer
of Free Thought, requested the Cemetery Associa-
tion to appoint Mr. V. Topinka as delegate to the
Klacel Monument Association in order to facilitate
prompt agreement between these two bodies. It was
resolved that the center of the main circle in the new
section be dedicated for the monument.

Important road improvements in the cemetery
as well as in front of the same were already begun
in March because of the better and cheaper labor
at that time.

On April 16 the salaries of all officers were in-
creased: the president to receive $30.00, the record-
ing secretary $50.00, the financial secretary $100.00,
the treasurer $30.00, the board of trustees $3.00 for
each trip. The salary of the grave-digger was fixed
at $40.00.

On May 4 it was resolved to divide one half of
the net proceeds of the annual celebration as follows:
$100.00 for Klacel's monument and the rest to
schools in the 6th and 8th ward. The new school
in the 14th ward was also to get a donation on con-

34

dition of the good progress of the same. The other
half of the net proceeds was to be retained by the
cemetery.

The question of telephone connection was post-
poned, because it was found that the Telephone Com-
pany charged $400.00 for the installation and 25 cents
for every message.

New delegates from January to the end of April :
Ant. Recek — Osveta Lodge ; John Cesal — Vysehrad
Lodge; Fr. Tesaf and John Kostka — Praha Lodge (if
not mentioned otherwise, ''lodge" means a lodge of
C. S. P. S.) ; Fr. Hauer — Mor. Slav. Benev. Society;
Jos. Dvorak — Boh. Tailors' Society; Vojt. Silha —
Vernost Lodge ; J. Hlavka — Vaclav Obc. Rad ; Ant.
Sedlacek — Obcansky Sad No. 2; John Liska — Otakar
Lodge, K. of P.; Jos. A. Smejkal — Rovnost Lodge.

The annual meeting was held on May 14. Jos.
Matousek was again elected President, Fr. Mencl
Vice-President; Em. A. Haase, Rec. Secretary; George
Nikodem, Fin. Secretary; Vac. Topinka, Treasurer;
Fr. Haase, Jos. Kostner and Jos. Cinkl, Board of
Trustees; Fr. Ring, Fr. Tesar and John Kotek, Audit-
ing Committee; J. V. Benes, Cemetery Superinten-
dent.

Rules for private monuments and enclosures were
laid down, picking of flowers on lots and graves and
other similar misdemeanors were prohibited, and all
other routine work was done in these months..

New delegates: Ant. Brom — Osveta Lodge, V.
Rousek — Boh. Sharpshooters; V. Cerveny — Jungmann
Lodge; John Hamza — Ces.-Delnicky Lodge; Ant.
Uhlif — Vernost Lodge.

The annual celebration on July 27 became an
historical event, because it w^as connected with the
laying of the foundation-stone to Prof. Klacel's Monu-
ment for which the Free Thought Community in Chi-
cago and other societies in sympathy with the Free
Thought were collecting funds. The procession was
truly remarkable and showed the great strength of
these societies. At the cemetery Frank B. Zdrubek,
the speaker of the day, delivered a splendid speech
in which he put stress on the harmony and fervor of
the societies as well as individual frethinkers who

35

built up this beautiful cemetery in such a short time
and made it a phenomenal success. All debts — and
there were many — were paid up within six years.
And now this cemetery was to be embellished by a
monument erected in honor of Ladimir Klacel, a
teacher and awakener of the Bohemian people of
America, a pioneer of the Free Thought and Ration-
alism, the memory of whom will never be forgotten
in this country. The ceremony ended with the plac-
ing of memorials and documents into foundation-
stone by all societies represented.

The receipts of this celebration were $4,050.79,
disbursements $1,937.98, and from the net proceeds
of $2,122.82 — according to the above mentioned reso-
lution— $500.00 was given to the Bohemian 18th
Street School, $500.00 to the Bunker Street School,
$100.00 to the Northwest Side school, $100.00 to the
Klacel Monument Association and $100.00 to a widow,
Mrs. Anna Castka, and her children.

There could not be the slightest doubt now that
the entire area of the cemetery would very soon be
occupied, and therefore it was resolved that the com-
mittee should make all efforts to get an additional
10 acres in the vicinity for a reasonable price.

The financial statement from May 14 to October
29, 1884, was as follows: receipts $5,288.53, disburse-
ments $3,054.83, cash balance $2,233.70.

1885

The financial situation of the Association had as-
sumed such a favorable aspect that when Garfield
Lodge No. 90 C. S. P. S. applied for membership with
the usual loan of $50.00 this amount was declined
with thanks and the society admitted without it. Its
delegates were Jos. Siller and Jos. Kozojed. Other
new delegates admitted in the first semester were:
Mat. Skala — Ces.-Delnicky Lodge; Fr. Fencl — Ces.-
Narodni Lodge; Jos. Matousek — Palacky Lodge L O.
O. F. ; Louis Zavadil — Rovnost Lodge; John Vondra
and Ign. Polanka — Jiri Pod. Lodge; Fr. Sikyta —
Pokrok Lodge; Fr. Hloucal — Vysehrad Lodge; Jos.
Hladovec — Boh. Amer. Sokol.

36

The prices of lots in the new section were fixed
at $60.00 at the main road, $50.00 at the side roads,
$40.00 at the narrow roads and the corner lots $1.00
higher. Four lots around Klacel's monument were
priced at $100.00.

At the annual meeting in May Jos. Matousek
was elected President, Fr. Kaspar, Vice-President;
Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; George Nikodem, Fin. Sec-
retary; Vac. Topinka, Treasurer; Jos. Kostner, E. A.
Haase and John Kotek, Board of Trustees; John Be-
nes, Cemetery Superintendent, and Fr. Tesaf, Louis
Zavadil and John Kotek, Auditing Committee.

It was resolved to build a spacious green-house
for cultivation of plants and to make efforts to ex-
terminate ants at the cemetery by hot water.

On August 5 the Klacel Monument Association
reported that it had collected $638.05 and the price
of the monument being $800.00, asked the Cemetery
Association to donate the rest of $161.95. The re-
quest was granted, the superintendent, Mr. Benes,
inspected the monument and when sculptor, Mr. Fr.
Hess, promised to make some corrections, found neces-
sary by Mr. Benes, the monument was accepted.

The annual celebration and the unveiling of Kla-
ceFs Monument were held on July 26. It was a note-
worthy manifestation by Chicago freethinkers. Many
of those who were contemporaries of the great philos-
opher were present. The great procession was the
more impressive in that it was marching without
bands, with only the rolling of veiled drums, on
account of the national mourning occasioned by the
death of President Ulysses Simpson Grant who died
July 23, 1885.

F. B. Zdrubek, president of Klacel Monument
Association, was the speaker of the day, Jos. Matou-
sek, president of the Bohemian National Cemetery
Association, accepted the monument in the name of
the cemetery and promised to keep it faithfully in
trust. Mr. Zbanek of Cedar Rapids, who was presi-
dent of the committee which in June, 1884, had
erected a monument to Klacel at Belle Plaine, la.,
where Klacel was buried, also delivered an address,
and finally Mr. Ant. Jurka, teacher of St. Paul, Minn.,

37

delivered greetings of Cech Lodge No. 12 C. S. P. S.,
St. Paul, and remarked that we would erect the best
monument to Klacel, if we would teach our children
to love the Bohemian mother-tongue. Sixty-five tele-
grams and letters were read from all larger Bohe-
mian settlements in the United States. The celebra-
tion ended with entertainment at Karasek's garden.

''Ladimir Klacel, the Bohemian patriot, philos-
opher and freethinker,'* as the inscription on the Belle
Plaine monument reads, arrived in the United States
in 1869. He was born on April 7, 1808, at Ceska
Tfebova, Bohemia, taught philosophy at Augustinian
Friars school at Brno, Moravia, but was deposed from
his office by the reactionary Vienna government
which accused him of pantheism and political radical-
ism. When Klacel came to America, he was in his
sixty-first year. Here he disseminated rationalism
among American Cechs and died at Belle Plaine on
March 17, 1882.

Receipts of the celebration were $3,310.31, dis-
bursements $1,784.82, net proceeds $1,525.49.

On September 2 a free burial of a child was
granted to a poor Bohemian family and on Septem-
ber 16 five dollars were given to Mrs. Marie Megs,
suffering from poverty.

The contract for the erection of the green-house
was given to Mr. J. V. Benes for $1,810, not including
a heater.

New delegates admitted in the second semester
were : John Blaha and Ad. B. Chladek — Otakar Lodge
K. of P. ; Fr. Hosna and Jos. Krause — Ceska Koruna
Lodge; Mart. Jensik and Fr. Odehnal — Obcansky
Had No. 2; Fr. Pech — Ces.-Delnicky Lodge; Jos. Kos-
t'al — Rip Lodge; Wm. Piskacek and Gasp. Cerny —
Svobodna Obec No. 1 ; Fr. Cirhan — Osveta Lodge ;
Fr. Kosatka and Jos. Rothbauer — Otakar Lodge, K.
of P.; Fr. Smrt — Boh. Sharpshooters; John Vondra
and Ign. Polanek — Jifi Podeb. Lodge; Chas. Blazek —
Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Fr. Kratky — Mor. Slav. Benev.
Society.

A regular gardener became a necessity and ad-
vertisements were therefore placed in two Bohemian
papers, Svornost and Slavia, and in the Polish Gaze-

38

ta. From 14 Bohemian and 3 Polish applications that
of Mr. Leopold Ine was chosen in a secret meeting
on October 7. This applicant produced a recommen-
dation of the Chicago Florist Association and there-
fore received the majority of votes. He was ap-
pointed for two years with a salary of $50.00 a
month, living quarters and fuel, and was placed un-
der a bond of $500.00.

The semiannual statement from May 13 to Octo-
ber 28 was: Receipts, $3,715.65, and disbursements,
$2,874.28; cash balance, $841.36.

1886

On January 6 it was reported that all cemetery
roads were finished. The cost was $2,414.07.

On January 20 the committee was instructed to
begin with the work on an artesian well. The con-
tracted price — as it was reported on February 3 —
was $1.75 a foot to the depth of 1,600 feet and $1.95
a foot to the depth of 2,000 feet. The work was to
be stopped as soon as sufficient water should be
found.

Palacky Lodge loaned to the Association $500.00
and Otakar Lodge $400.00 at 51/2%.

On February 17 it was reported that through the
good offices of Mr. Fr. Fucik many flowers were
donated to the cemetery from city parks.

On March 3 prices for decorating graves were
fixed.

On April 14 it was resolved to buy a horse and
a wagon for the cemetery and to hire a man to take
care of it.

On April 28 the committee was instructed to in-
form the public that the gardener was allowed to
sell flowers besides those for the cemetery also for
private homes.

At the annual meeting, held on May 12, Jos.
Matousek was elected President, Fr. Kaspar, Vice-
President; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; George Nikodem,
Fin. Secretary; Jos. Kostner, Treasurer; E. A. Haase,
V. Topinka and Jos. Smejkal, Board of Trustees;
J. V. Benes, cemetery superintendent. The financial

39

statement from November 11, 1885, to April 28,
1886: Receipts, $6,621.52; disbursements, $6,236.51;
cash balance, $385.01.

On May 26 a grave was given gratis to a poor
v^idow, Mrs. Altmeyer, for her deceased husband.

On June 9 the grave-digger and the gardener
were sworn in at Jefferson as policemen, authorized
to arrest any wrong-doer at the cemetery. — ^The arte-
sian well was finished, giving a sufficient quantity of
water at the depth of 1,600 feet. — The Board of Trus-
tees submitted a valuation of the whole property of
the National Cemetery, taken at a moderate price
and fixed at $62,276.80.

The annual celebration was held on Sunday, July
28. The picturesque procession of all societies
through the city to the depot, with banners and
bands, Marshall Edw. Holy at the head, created a
big impression. Next morning the reporter of "The
Inter-Ocean" said in a fine article that he had never
before seen such joyous people on a holiday and so
well-behaved as on this occasion. Receipts were
$4,239.22, disbursements $1,988.27, net proceeds
$2,250.95.

On September 1 the committee was instructed to
build a stone-cistern, 6 by 6 feet, at the well for
$265.00.

On August 18 Fr. Hess and Wm. Piskacek were
sent as delegates to the celebration of the opening
of the National Cemetery at Braidwood, 111., held on
August 23.

The semiannual financial statement from April
28 to October 31 was: Receipts $6,421.24, disburse-
ments $5,829.00, cash balance $591.26.

New delegates admitted during the year: Jos.
Janousek and John Peroutka — ftip Lodge; John Ba-
bor — Vysehrad Lodge; Rud. Vopat — Pokrok Lodge;
Vac. Puc and Thom. Miller — Vaclav Obc. Had; Vine.
Kopecky — Fire Aid Society; John Skupa — Lincoln
Lodge; John Rajchart and Chas. Kopfiva, succeeded
later by Vac. Balsan and Jos. Vopat — Boh. Sharp-
shooters; Jos. A. Smejkal — Rovnost Lodge; John
Chvala — Jifi Podebradsky Lodge; John Nemec, suc-
ceeded later by Vojt. Janecek — Boh. Amer. Sokol ; Fr.

40

Husak and Rud. Fortner, succeeded later by John
Kfivanek and John Lukes and these again by Fr. Ne-
kola and John Hora — Jungmann Lodge; Vac. Klima
— Obcansky Rad No. 2; Fr. Kucaba and Ant. Kry-
zan — new member — Jifi Washington Lodge No. 66
C. S. P. S. ; Jos. Braza — Svob. Obec ; Jos. Machacek —
Ceska Koruna Lodge.

1887

On January 5 it was resolved to ask all debtors
to pay up, because the total of debts amounted to
$2,317 and to charge them 6% on their debt until
paid. — Mr. Scheiner sent a donation of $10.00.

After negotiations with the Telephone Company
which fixed the price of the telephone connection
between the cemetery and the city at $500.00 and
asked a guarantee of at least $180.00 a year for mes-
sages, it was resolved to sign the contract, because
such a connection became an absolute necessity. The
connection was formed on March 30.

It was also resolved to buy another horse and
wagon and to build another green-house.

On March 2 it was resolved to sell lots only to
one person and never to several individuals and to
draw up the cession to only one person in order to
avoid many troubles.

At the annual meeting on May 11 Fr. Tesaf was
elected President, Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jaroslav
Lenoch, Rec. Secretary; Thomas Kosatka, Fin. Secre-
tary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Nekola, Smejkal and
Hora, Board of Trustees; Fr. Hess Cemetery Superin-
tendent.

On June 6 the Committee received the permis-
sion from the County Sheriff to have a Deputy Sheriff
for whom a bond of $4,500 was deposited. This pro-
vision was very urgent for keeping order at the ceme-
tery. Mr. J. A. Smejkal was appointed the first Dep-
uty Sheriff. It was resolved that no games and no
betting for money should be allowed at the ceme-
tery. In consequence of complaints that on week-
days many picnics were being held near the ceme-
tery, carriages took up the road along the cemetery,

41

beer was drawn and various disturbances committed,
it was resolved to publish public warnings in news-
papers and to urge everybody to desist from such
offenses.

The annual celebration was held on July 31.
The procession with Marshall E. Holy and the Slavo-
nic Band was imposing, and the celebration, aided
by the fine weather, resulted in a great success. The
receipts were $3,174.05, the disbursements $1,890.35,
the net proceeds $1,283.70.

On August 31 it was reported that the new green-
house increased the sales of flowers to such an extent
that the net profit during the last six months was
$510.64.

On September 14 it was resolved that persons
not of Bohemian descent who desired burial in the
National Cemetery must comply with all enacted con-
ditions and rules. $10.00 was donated for the found-
ing of a Bohemian Sunday school at Ladimir Klacel
Hall.

On October 12 it was resolved that if a debtor
refused to pay for the purchased lot, the body buried
in that lot should be transferred into the com.mon
rows and the lot should be resold. In case that the
address of the debtor was unknown the intended re-
sale should be announced in the newspapers and the
transfer of the dead body made 30 days later. The
debts for lots in October already amounted to $4,445,
therefore John Peroutka was intrusted with the col-
lections of those debts for $25.

During this year 343 dead were buried, 10 of
them gratis.

On December 7 it was resolved that federal
bonds should be bought for the surplus in the treas-
ury, and the committee purchased 41/2 pct. bonds
for $2,000.00. The entire property of the cemetery
was insured for loss by fire ($3,500.00). The cost of
the new green-house was $865.32. A donation of
$25.00 was given to the 14th Ward School.

New members in 1887: Bozena Nemcova Lodge
No. 1022, K. L. H., with delegates Vac. Topinka and
Ant. Kanak (the lodge was admitted on January 19
and withdrew on August 3) ; Vratislav Lodge No. 51

42

C. S. p. S. on July 20, with delegates F. J. Doubek
and J. Havel.

New delegates in 1887: Otakar Lodge, K. of P.—
Vac. Bilek and Mat. Blazek (succeeded by L. Melka) ;
Osveta Lodge — John Vysoky and Jos. Ruecker; Lin-
coln Lodge — Chas. Soldat and Aug. Geringer; Gar-
field Lodge — Al. Cerny and Chas. Sramek; Vac. Obc.
fiad — Mat. Hanzlik; Fire Aid Society — Mart. Traznik
and Proc. Fiser; Hip Lodge — Ign. Slezak, succeeded
by Mart. Ring; Vysehrad Lodge — John Mencl, suc-
ceeded by Mat. Vesely and Mart. Silhanek; Ces.-Del-
nicky Lodge — Ant. Hybl and Fr. Vranek, later J.
Hospes; Jiri Podebradsky Lodge — John Vondra and
John Chvala; Ces.-Nar. Lodge — Fr. Duha; Praha
Lodge — Jar. Lenoch; Vernost Lodge — Vac. Slapak;
Mor. Slav. Benev. Society — Jos. Komeraus and Fr.
Masek; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Vac. Stal and Mat.
Han; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos. Caithamr and Jos.
Francl; Boh. Amer. Sokol — Rud. Kapsa; Jifi Wash-
ington Lodge — E. Smola; Obcansky fiad No. 2 — Fr.
Riedl; Rovnost Lodge — Jos. Svojse.

1888

On February 29 it was reported that the effort
to collect debts had been unsatisfactory. Therefore
it was resolved to try again and to remit all uncol-
lected cases to a lawyer for collection. All legal
work was given to Mr. C. D. Lusk.

The total number of burials (from the begin-
ning) was 4,061, and 813 lots were sold.

At the annual meeting on May 9 Jos. Matousek
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President;
Em. A. Haase, Rec. Secretary; Thom. Kosatka, Fin.
Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos, A. Smejkal,
Jos. Kostner and George Nikodem, Board of Trus-
tees; Fr. Hess, Cemetery Superintendent; Aug. Ge-
ringer, Fr. Ring and Jos. Svojse, Auditing Commit-
tee. Receipts in this half were $7,659.25, disburse-
ments $6,624.75; 248 burials of which 6 were free
of charge, 50 lots sold; $1,800 was paid up on loans
during the past year.

Upon motion of Fr. Hess it was resolved to hold

43

only one meeting every month, on the first Wednes-
day, and this custom became permanent.

Upon request of the Bohemian Sharpshooters
permission was given to them to celebrate the un-
veiling of Procop Houdek Monument on June 3.

On August 1 it was resolved to make it a rule
to cover the graves only with sod, because the stone-
borders fell to pieces after a few years and presented
a very bad appearance. The same rule had been
adopted by all of the other cemeteries in Chicago.

The annual celebration met with great success.
The procession, v/ith George Sindelar as Marshall,
marched through the city to the depot. The receipts
were $3,433.58; disbursements $1,819.49; net pro-
ceeds $1,614.09, from which the Boh.-English Freeth.
School received $175.00, Matice Skolska in Chicago
$125.00, Klacel School $78.00, Northwestern Boh.
School $78.00, Matice Skolska in Bohemia $78.00.

On December 5 the Association was requested to
send a delegate to the committee for the erection of
a monument to the Civil War Veterans at the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery. Jos. Kostner was appoint-
ed to attend the meetings of the committee and to
make reports.

The receipts for this semester were $8,208.45;
disbursements $6,546.49; 36 lots sold; 318 burials,
of which 6 were free of charge.

The only new member admitted in 1888 was Ob-
cansky Rad No. 28, with Maurice Halek and Vac.
Krai as delegates. (These delegates were later suc-
ceeded by Vac. Malecek and Fr. Vlach.)

New delegates in 1888: Jifi Washington Lodge
— Vojt. Sedlacek; Rip Lodge — J. V. Matejka (suc-
ceeded by J. Peroutka and after Peroutka's death by
Jan Nechvatal) and Fr. Lahvic; Garfield Lodge —
Jos. Krupicka and M. Nosek; Vernost Lodge — J. Ja-
vurek (succeeded by John Prochazka) and Fr. Ka-
lina; Osveta Lodge — Vac. Kudrle and Jos. Becvaf;
Lincoln Lodj^e — Aug. Geringer; Fire Aid Society —
Mat. Silhanek; Boh. Amer. Sokol — Vojt. Janecek and
Vojt. Churan (succeeded by Fr. Kaspar) ; Otakar
Lodge, K. P. — Fr. Kubu ; Vysehrad Lodge — Vac. Lu-
kes and Fr. Capouch ; Boh. Sharpshooters — John Zeit-

44

hamer and Vac. Kodrout, later Jos. Hospes; Obc.
ftad No. 2 — Vac. Kapoun; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Jos.
Kraus (succeeded by Fr. Kaspar) ; Praha Lodge —
Vac. Topinka; Mor. Slav. Benev. Society — Fr. Kratky;
Vratislav Lodge — Vac. Kabat; Pokrok Lodge — John
Spillar.

1889

The Board of Trustees reported that 10 acres
were purchased. The real estate of the Cemetery
was valued at $35,303.50; movable property at
$6,145.00; total $41,498.50. During the past year
there were 600 burials of which 17 were free of
charge; 83 lots were sold.

On February 6 the statute amendment by which
the stone-borders around the lots were prohibited in
all new sections was accepted on the third reading.
Further, by 31 votes against 11, the transfer of meet-
ings to the Boh.-Engl. Freeth. School on 18th St.
was accepted.

On March 6 the treasurer was instructed to pay
$6,000.00 to Jeanne and Thomas Conway for the new-
ly purchased 10 acres.

On April 3 a committee was elected to draft all
necessary statute amendments: J. B. Nikodem, Fr.
Mencl, Fr. Hess, Fr. Macek and John Vojta.

At the annual meeting, held on May 1, Jos. Hla-
dovec was elected President; John Kfiz, Vice-Presi-
dent; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; Thom. Kosatka, Fin.
Secretary; Vac. Visa, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smejkal,
Jos. Sindelaf and Jos. Hora, Board of Trustees; Fr.
Hess, Cemetery Superintendent. The financial re-
port for the entire past year was as follows; receipts,
$15,618.98; disbursements, $14,358.28. There were
263 burials, of which 8 were free of charge.

Matice Skolska in Prague sent a diploma of
honorary membership which was framed.

$50.00 was donated on July 3 for relief of miners
at Coal City and Sufferanceville.

The annual celebration on July 28 was held in
connection with the celebration of the laying of the
corner stone for the Bohemian Civil War Veterans
Monument. The American attendance was large.

45

The Grand Army of the Republic and Sons of Vet-
erans took part at this manifestation, and the bonds
between Bohemians and their American fellow-citi-
zens were considerably stren^hened. George Sinde-
laf was the marshall; Jos. Cermak, editor of the
Daily Svornost and author of a History of the Civil
War in the Bohemian language, was the speaker of
the day; attorney Kraus, Col. J. H. Southworth and
Vac. Kaspar were speakers in the garden. More
than 100 documents were sealed into the corner stone
by various societies. It was also resolved to express
thanks to Capt. E. R. Lewis for his effective support.
Receipts were $3,857.25; disbursements, $2,126.03;
from the net proceeds ($1,731.22) one half, $865.61,
w^as donated to the monument fund.

On August 7 new sections of the Cemetery were
opened. $20.00 was sent to the flood sufferers in
Bohemia. On October 2 a donation of $25.00 was
made to the 16th Vv^ard School. On December 4
Christmas tree donations were made: $25.00 to the
18th Street School and $15.00 each to Maticni, Klacel
and Northwestern Schools.

New members admited in 1889 were: Jan 2izka
Lodge No. 1 J. T. (Vac. Matas and J. L. Dvorak, dele-
gates) ; Prokop Veliky Lodge No. 3 J. T. (Vac. Sedlak
and Jos. Dubsky, delegates) ; Jan Hus Lodge No. 2
J. T. (Jos. Kosatka and John Wilfort) ; Obcansky
Rad No. 8 (John Tauchen and Jos. Fronek, succeed-
ed by Theo. Smidl, delegates) ; Klacel Court No. 84
I. O. O. F. (John Kfiz and Vac. Paara, delegates),
all with $50.00 admission fees.

Changes in delegates were : Vysehrad Lodge —
Fr. Marousek, succeeded by John Pecha; Garfield
Lodge — Vac. Nekola and Jos. Baeumel ; Jif i Pode-
bradsky Lodge — L. Cerny and V. Budilovsky; Vaclav
Obc. Rad — J. Jedlicka, succeeded by Jos. Lahvic;
Jifi Washington Lodge — Mat. Papez; Rip Lodge —
Jos. Sindelaf; Boh. Amer. Sokol — Jos. Hladovec and
J. V. Matejka; Pravda Lodge — J. B. Nikodem and
Fr. Hess; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Mat. Hahn and Mat.
Benes, succeeded by Fr. Valvoda; Vratislav Lodge —
Fr. Drasal; Rovnost Lodge — Fr. Hrejsa; Ces.-Del.
Lodge — Jos. Vranek; Fire Aid Society — Jos. Cinkl;

46

Svobodna Obec — Ant. Smrz; Palacky Lodge I. O. O.
F. — Jos. Matousek; Praha Lodge L O. O. F. — Jos.
Jurka and V. Topinka, succeeded by Jos. Novak; Ota-
kar Lodge, K. P. — Jos. Vodicka ; Osveta Lodge — Mat.
Tanzer; Obcansky Rad No. 2 — Jan Zika; Boh. Sharp-
shooters— Ad. Cerny; Pokrok Lodge — Fr. Masa.

1890

Prices in the new section at Klacel Monument
were fixed as follows : four corner lots near the
monument, $150.00 each, other lots, 75, 65, 60 and 55
dollars, according to location. The gardener's salary
was raised to $50.00 a month.

The annual report showed that there was a to-
tal of 5,176 dead buried in the cemetery and 994 lots
sold (during the last year there were 625 burials,
of which 17 were free of charge; 104 lots were sold
for $7,000).

The entire property was valued at $57,471.00.

On March 5 the Board of Trustees submitted the
plans for new sections and roads in the eastern part
of the cemetery, drafted by Messrs. Greeley and Carl-
son, engineers.

On May 7 the annual meeting was held. Jos.
Matousek was elected President; John Kfiz, Vice-
President; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; John J. Vojta,
Fin. Secretary; Jos. Babka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej-
kal, Jos. Hora and Jos. Sindelaf, Board of Trustees;
Fr. Hess, Cemetery Superintendent. The salaries
were raised as follows: Financial Secretary $150.00,
members of the Board of Trustees $3.00 for each trip
to the cemetery and $25.00 a year for time losses
due to negotiations in the city. The treasurer was in-
structed not to keep more cash than $5,000.00 on
hand and to remit any money in excess of this amount
to the Board of Trustees who would deposit it at in-
terest. The Association consisted of 35 societies with
70 delegates; in case of 12 societies the 50-dollar ad-
mission fees were still in the hands of the Associa-
tion to be returned after the expiration of 5 years.
Debts for lots sold totalled $6,557.30. Mr. Benes's
plan for a green-house annex was approved.

47

On June 18 a special meeting approved several
statute amendments. The most important were : New
members were to pay a $100.00 admission fee which
was non-returnable. Amounts to be used for other
purposes than those of the cemetery could be voted
upon only if two thirds of the delegates present ap-
proved of the proposed subscriptions.

The net proceeds from the annual celebration
were $2,224.73.

On August 6, upon request of the Boh. Engl.
Freeth. School Patronage, a loan of $1500.00 for 6
months at 6% was voted. On October 1 two dona-
tions were made : $25.00 to the Boh. Engl. School
and $50.00 for flood sufferers in Bohemia in the care
of Mr. Vojta Naprste'k.

New member admitted: Cesky Lev Court No.
24 I. O. O. F., Jos. Babka and Jos. Soller, later suc-
ceeded by Phil. Cesal, delegates.

New delegates were: Otakar Lodge, K. P. — Fr.
Kvapil; Osveta Lodge — Chas. Synek; Vysehrad
Lodge — Jos. Becvaf and Fr. Vales; Obc. Rad No. 2 —
Vojt. Morava; Vaclav Obc. Rad No. 23 — Jos. Hru-
bec; Mor. Slav. Ben. Society — Jos. Komorous and
Mart. Krauskruber, the first followed by Fr. Kopfi-
va and both followed by John Hospes and Jos. Vra-
nek; Pravda Lodge — J. V. Matejka, followed by Fr.
Hess; Ces.-Nar. Lodge — Chas. Flemr; Sokol Gymn.
Assn. — Stan. J. Halik; Lodge No. 8 CSPO. — J. Mar-
tinek; Klacel Court — John Krtezius; Jan Hus Lodge
J. T. — Fr. Kovafik; Rovnost Lodge — Libor Poslusny;
Praha Lodge — Jos. F. Kohout, followed by Vac. To-
pinka; Svob. Obec — L. W. Kadlec; Ceska Koruna
Lodge — John Suda; Jifi Podebradsky Lodge — Mat.
Tyk; Palacky Lodge lOOF. — Fr. Fucik; Prokop Ve-
liky Lodge J. T. — Jos. Kundrat.

1891

According to the financial report for 1890 the
gardener's receipts were $5,179.39 and expenditures
$3,382.60. There were 700 burials, of which 27 were
free of charge. The total number of buried was

48

5,881. Total lots sold were 1,113 (in the past year
121 lots were sold for $7,380).

On March 4 Fr. Mencl was appointed delegate
to the Bohemian Veterans Monument committee.

The Board of Trustees recommended the open-
ing of a new section with a provision that nothing
should be sold there until all lots in the older sec-
tions were sold.

On April 1 it was reported that the debts for
lots sold still amounted to $7,608.00 and for grave
decorations $151.40. The financial secretary was
instructed to send notices to the debtors.

At the annual meeting on May 6 Vaclav Matas
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr.
Ring, Rec. Secretary; Stan. J. Halik, Fin. Secretary;
Jos. Babka, Treasurer; Jos. Jurka and Jos. Sindelaf,
Board of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, Cemetery Superin-
tendent. The latter received a badge which enabled
him to visit other Chicago cemeteries to study their
management. The Board of Trustees was instructed
to buy bonds for $3,000.00 and to look for additional
land.

The annual celebration on July 26 brought 44
railroad cars of excursionists to the cemetery. The
net proceeds were $1,944.79.

On Septemer 2, the Civil War Veterans commit-
tee reported that $1,500.00 was wanting to the full
price of the monument and the Association was asked
to donate this amount. A committee of three, Ma-
tousek, Kostner and Fucik, was elected and upon its
recommendation the Association voted that amount
on November 4.

On August 18 a tour of inspection of all mem-
bers of the Association was held for the purpose of
a thorough inspection of the cemetery and to give
an opportunity to the members to disclose their opin-
ions and to find what could be improved. The fares
and refreshments were paid for from the treasury.
40 delegates were present.

On December 2 the following donations were
made: Matice Skolska in Chicago, $10.00; the
Grand Lodge C. S. P. S. of the State of Illinois, $6.00
worth of flowers for the National Committee cele-

49

bration; poor children in Bohemian schools, $100.00,
($20.00 to each of five schools).

New delegates in this year were: Sokol Gymn.
Assn. — Fr. Mencl; Boh. Amer. Sokol — J. V. Matejka
and J. Hladovec; Vernost Lodge — John Forst and
Wm. Vogel; Praha Lodge — John Brejcha; Jungmann
Lodge — John Hora; Jifi Podebradsky Lodge — Vac.
Kolaf and Jos. Kerner; Jifi Washington Lodge — Fr.
Smola; Garfield Lodge — Vac. Vaska and J. Tupy,
the latter followed by Proc. Vitek; Prokop Veliky
Lodge J. T. — Jos. Kundrat and Vac. Sedlak; Boh.
Sharpshooters — Fr. Sima and Jos. Chylek; Vaclav
Obc. Rad No. 23— Fr. Kalina, followed by Fr. Bau-
dys, and Jos. Bradac; Svob. Obec — Vojt. Vofisek
and Chas. Svoboda; Jan Zizka Lodge J. T. — John
Dvorak and John Zika; Klacel Court — Jos. Benes;
Obc. Rad No. 28 — Jos. Cimbura and John Svoboda;
Otakar Lodge, K. P. — Wm. Kosa; Vratislav Lodge —
Mat. Kolaf and Jos. Turek.

1892

On January 6 it was resolved to return the 50-
dollar admission fees to the seven remaining societies
which had not yet received them. A donation of
$20.00 was made to Matice Skolska in Bohemia.

On February 3 the Board of Trustees reported
that there was no possibility of buying any more land
for the cemetery, because this land was within the
city limits and could not be used for cemetery pur-
poses.

During the year 1891, 185 lots were sold; there
were 865 burials, of which 29 were free of charge.
The real estate of the Cemetery was valued at
$75,574.00, cash and bonds were $10,145.73, making
the total $85,609.73.

On April 6 $25.00 was donated to the National
Committee. It was resolved to start new books, install
a correct commercial bookkeeping system and hire a
capable bookkeeper at least for the summer months
for a salary of $50.00 a month.

At the annual meeting on May 4 Vac. Matas
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jos.

50

Becvaf, Rec. Secretary; Stan. J. Halik, Fin. Secretary;
Jos. Babka, Treasurer; Jos. Sindelaf and Fr. Fucik,
Board of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, Cemetery Superin-
tendent. Twelve applications for bookkeeper were
received; the lowest offer by E. A. Haase for $40.00
a month was accepted, and he began to work on
April 23.

The celebration of the unveiling of the Bohemian
Veterans' Monument was held on May 29. It was
the greatest patriotic manifestation by Bohemians of
Chicago up to that time, and all American dailies
had detailed reports next morning, with pictures and
full texts of speeches. All Freethinker Societies
marched in the procession with banners and bands,
and a prominent place in the procession was reserved
for the veterans of the Grand Army of Republic and
for the Sons of Veterans. The procession was led
by the marshall, W. Stuchlik; E. R. Lewis was the
Grand Marshall, Jos. Sindelaf and A. J. Miks were in
his staff (Sindelaf led the Bohemian division, A. J.
Miks led the division of the veterans) and Petr Hand,
Fr. Stejskal, H. J. Lehman and J. C. Barker were
adjutants. Near the veiled monument at the ceme-
tery Mayor Carter H. Harrison, William S. Elliot, L.
W. Kadlec, Jos. Cermak, Ed. Harlan, commander of
the Grand Army of Illinois, the historian Robert H.
Vickers and the members of the Cemetery committee
awaited the procession.

About 200 school children sang the anthem
''America", Miss Albina Stejskal, in behalf of the
Singing Society, presented the officers of the Ceme-
tery with a big American banner, for which Jos. Kost-
ner expressed thanks. The president of the Cemetery,
Jos. Matousek, made the introductory speech in which
he declared: *'We are Americans and love this new
country not only with words, but with deeds, as this
monument proves." The Grand Marshall, Lewis, was
the English speaker of the day, his theme being ''This
is the day of brotherhood," and after his speech the
monument was unveiled by John Schultz, son of the
Bohemian veteran Frank Schultz. Vaclav Kaspar,
in behalf of the Monument Committee, dedicated the
monument to the Bohemian National Cemetery, and

51

after a short reply by V. Matas, Jos. Cermak, editor
of the Daily Svornost and the Bohemian speaker of
the day, spoke, followed by Mayor Harrison, W. S.
Elliott and Commander Harlan. The Ladies' Society
Vlasta No. 2, today Vlasta Lodge No. 9 S. P. J., do-
nated a beautiful golden emblem to that member of
the Monument Committee who deserved the great-
est merit, and the emblem was presented by Mrs.
Marie Slapak, president of the Vlasta Society, and
by Mrs. Uhlif to Mr. Fr. Schultz. The Bohemian
ladies also dedicated on this occasion a splendid
American banner to the Cemetery Association which
uses it at celebrations to this day.

On June 1 Jos. Jurka resigned on account of
his trip to Bohemia and Jos. A. Smejkal was elected
his successor on the Board of Trustees.

On July 7 the recording secretary was instructed
to draft a memorial for the foundation stone of the
Plzefisky Sokol building. — It was reported that the
cost of the Veterans' Monument was $5,035.00, the
committee collected $3,490.00, earned $824.00; and
the amount to be supplied by the Bohemian Cemetery
was $720.40. The report was approved and all bills
settled.

The annual celebration on July 31 met with an
extraordinary success. Five trains brought big
crowds to the cemetery. The weather was unusually
fine. Jos. Sindelaf was again marshall of the proces-
sion. The net proceeds were $1,265.78.

In September E. A. Haase resigned as bookkeep-
er and F. Mencl as Vice-President. Jos. Hora was
elected Vice-President.

The annual tour of inspection was held on No-
vember 13 and reporters from the Bohemian news-
papers were invited. Improvements recommended by
the delegates at this occasion were : new gate, new
fence, new house for the gardener, new road for
freight wagons and other minor suggestions.

On December 7, it was resolved to build a new
gate and to begin work on it in the spring. $100.00
was donated to the Bohemian schools, $25.00 to each.

Sokol Gymn. Association and Boh. Amer. Sokol
merged into Slovanska Lipa Association and as a new

52

society were admited on August 3, with St. J. Halik
and Al. E. Kapsa as delegates.

New delegates this year were : Boh. Amer. So-
kol — A. M. Kapsa and Jos. Dvorak; Vernost Lodge —
John Novak ; Lincoln Lodge — Ant. Dvorak ; Jifi Wash-
ington Lodge — Vojt. Matousek and Ant. Kryzan;
Oarfield Lodge — Vac. Nekola and Vac. Vaska; Ce-
ska Koruna Lodge — Fr. Aulicky and John Suda; Ob-
cansky Rad No. 2 — Fr. Riedl and Jos. Plachetka,
the latter followed by Vac. Opat; Vaclav Obc. Rad
— Jos. Hrubec; Boh. Sharpshooters — John Stropni-
cky, later Adolf Cerny and Fr. Suchy; Klacel Court —
Mat. Rolenc, followed by Chas. Vesely, and Fr. Te-
saf; Prokop Veliky Lodge J. T. — John Pecha; Pra-
ha Lodge lOOF. — Emil Hambachr; Jan Zizka Lodge
J. T.— Ed. Sichra; Ces.-Nar. Lodge — Mart. Wolf;
Pravda Lodge — Em. A. Haase; Svob. Obec — Jos. Bra-
za and Ant. Smrz, later Chas. Censky and John Bam-
l)ula; Vratislav Lodge — Mat. Kolaf and Vac. Hejda-
nek; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos. Becvaf and Vac. Pelikan;
Ces.-Del. Lodge — Fr. Vranek and Jos. Vranek.

1893

The annual report showed that in the past year
there were 850 burials of which 30 were free of
charge; 178 lots were sold for $1,330.

On March 1 the design for a new gate by archi-
tect Kfivanek was approved. — The Jefferson Electric
Street Railway asked for signatures to its petition for
the right of way for its line passing near the ceme-
tery. It was agreed to comply with this request. —
The National C. S. P. S. Supreme Lodge asked the
Association to send a delegate to a public meeting,
concerning the erection of a Bohemian Orphans' or
Old Peoples' Asylum. The Association answered that,
being itself a body consisting only of delegates of
other societies, it could not send such a delegate,
but that it would support such an institution as much
as possible.

On April 5 the Bohemian Veterans' Monument
Committee submitted a request that the Association
should take charge of the Memorial Day Celebra-

53

tion. This matter was referred to the Board of Trus«
tees.

At the annual meeting on May 3 Jos. Hora was
elected President; Vac. Matas, Vice-President; Fr.
Ring, Rec. Secretary; St^ J. Halik, Fin. Secretary; J.
Babka, Treasurer; J. A. Smejkal and Fr. Fucik, Board
of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, Cemetery Superintendent.

On June 7 $50.00 was donated to the new Klacel
School Building.

The salary of the gardener, Mr. Ine, was raised
to $75.00 a month.

The annual celebration on July 30 brought 4
trains and 44 cars to the cemetery. The net proceeds
were $1,165.05.

On August 2 flowers for the welcome of guests
from Bohemia were donated, and on Sept. 6 the bill
for flowers for the Sokol float on the Bohemian Day
at the World's Fair was cancelled. On November 1
a wreath was voted for the funeral of the deceased
friend of Chicago Bohemians, Mayor Harrison.

On December 6 the Board of Trustees reported
that several new improvements were finished: new
gate and house for $15,179.30, new barn for
$1,118.54, new fence for $345.00. $100.00 was do-
nated for Christmas celebrations to 4 Bohemian
schools.

During this year 144 lots were sold for $11,185.
There were 819 burials. The real estate of the ceme-
tery was valued at $98,918.00.

New delegates in 1893 were: Prokop Veliky
Lodge J. T. — Ant. Chmelik and J. G. Panoch; Vaclav
Obc. Rad — ^Jos. Hrubec and Jos. Bradac; Mor. Slav.
Ben. Society — Jos. Vranek, followed by Jac. Pfepej-
chal, and John Hospes; Lincoln Lodge — Jos. Wolf
and Thom. Kosatka; Klacel Court — John Krtezius
and John Kfivanek; Jungmann Lodge — Jos. Hora and
Jos. Najemnik; Praha Lodge lOOF. — Em. Hamba-
cher; Praha Lodge CSPS. — John Kfiz and John Brej-
cha, followed by Jos. Hladovec; Cesky Lev Court —
M. Kalal and Phil. Cesal; Vernost Lodge — Fr. Mend
and John Novak, followed by Jos. Cedik; Jan 2izka
Lodge J. T. — Ed. Sichra and Vas. Matas; Jan Hus
Lodge J. T. — John Fiser; Ces-.Nar. Lodge — Vac.

54

Trumpich, followed by Chas. Tremer who again was
succeeded by Mat. Salava; Pravda Lodge — J. V. Be-
nes; Obc. Rad No. 2 — Mart. Fuxa; Rip Lodge —
Chas. Llbal; Ceska Koruna Lodge — F. Hlavin and
Jos. Moravec; Obc. Rad No. 28— Fr. Vlach; Fire Aid
Society — Mat. Hanzlik; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos. Ku-
bicek; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos. Mandl and Jos. Raus.

1894

On January 7 it was reported that the insurance
was increased to $7,000.00.

On April 4 $15.00 worth of flowers was donated
to the Boh. Engl. School at Town of Lake for the
celebration of its opening.

On May 2 the annual meeting was held. Jos.
Hora was elected President; Ant. Chmelik, Vice-Pres-
ident; Fr. Ring, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treas-
urer; Vac. Matas and Jos. Sindelaf, Board of Trus-
tees. On May 16 Jos. Spiegelhauer (Zrcadlovsky)
was appointed bookkeeper, on account of his exper-
ience at the cemetery at Manitowoc, Wis., and a new
office was opened for him at the hall of Mr. Pechota
on 18th St.

On June 6 it was resolved to decorate the gate
with a memorial tablet with the names of the origi-
nal founders of the cemetery: Jos. Matousek, Jos.
Dostal, Fr. Bedlan, M. Polacek and Vojt. Freml.

The annual celebration on July 29 met with fine
success notwithstanding the financial crisis from
Avhich workingmen and business men suffered very
badly. The net proceeds were $637.19 of which one
third had been promised to the Old Peoples' Home.

On September 5 president Jos. Hora was elected
delegate to the Committee for the Ethnographic Ex-
position in Prague and Fr. Pechota was elected dele-
gate to the Old Peoples' Home committee.

The Board of Trustees began the work on the
pond. This was to be 400 feet long and 80 feet wide
and a new section was to be filled with the soil
hauled out.

The annual tour of inspection took place on Sun-
day, October 7. Eighteen delegates were present.

55

A check for $212.90 for the Bohemian Old Peo-
ples' Home was issued. $25.00 worth of flowers was
donated to the Klacel School and $10.00 worth to
the Ladies' Committee for the Matice Skolska bazaar.
$100.00 for Christmas was donated to five Bohemian
schools.

St. J. Halik was instructed to write a short his-
tory of the Association for the Ethnographic Exposi-
tion in Prague.

Two members dropped off: Obcansky Had No.
28 disbanded and Vaclav Obc. Rad No. 3 merged
with the Ces.-Delnicky Lodge. New delegates: Ver-
ost Lodge — John Forst and Fr. Mencl; Jifi Podebrad-
sky Lodge — Jos. Drznicek and John Stropnicky ; Osve-
ta Lodge — Ign. Kutta and Vojt. Janecek; Pravda
Lodge — Jos. Zarobsky; Lincoln Lodge — Jos. Pavlik;
Jifi Washington Lodge — Ign. Schultz, followed by
Vac. Kratochvil, and Ant. Kryzan; Ces.-Del. Lodge
J. T. — John Kadlec; Boh. Sharpshooters — Fr. Sima;
Fire Aid Society — Vac. Topinka; Prokop Veliky
Lodge J. T. — Phil. Cesal; Otakar Lodge, K. P. — M. R.
Hfebik; Klacel Court — Vac. Minafik; Palacky Lodge
— F. J. Pechota; Praha Lodge — John Kuttan; Rov-
nost Lodge — John Dolezal; Obc. Had No. 8 — Dav.
Mach; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos. Hosek, succeeded by
Jos. Skala and Fr. Capouch; Ceska Koruna Lodge —
Fr. Komorous.

1895

On January 2 the Board of Trustees reported
the rear gate finished. It was resolved that every lot
purchaser pay one third of the price at time of the
purchase, and that all lot debtors pay 6% interest on
the amount due.

In 1894 according to the annual report there
were 953 burials (among them 67 free of charge)
and 106 lots were sold for $8,388.00.

The Board of Trustees gave an order for a large
map of the cemetery to the surveyor, Mr. Pavlicek,
who presented the same on June 5. The cost was
$300.00, and it was resolved to make several blue
prints for all cemetery offices.

56

On March 6 it was resolved to comply with the
request of the committee for the Ethnographic Expo-
sition in Prague and to take pictures of various views
of the cemetery as well as a group picture of the dele-
gates.

On April 3 the Board of Trustees reported that
it was necessary to open a new section near the Vete-
rans' Monument.

At the annual meeting on May 1 Fr. Mencl was
elected President; St. J. Halik, Vice-President; Jos.
Vaska, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A.
Smejkal, Fr. Fucik and M. Wolf, Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees submitted the 20-year
History of the Cemetery, written by F. B. Zdrubek.
The names selected for the main roads were as fol-
lows (beginning from the north) : 1, Komensky; 2,
Klacel; 3, Hus; 4, National; 5, Havlicek; 6, Beach.
The name of the road east from the Veterans' Monu-
ment was to be Bohemian-American Veterans' Road.
The roads from the north to the south, beginning from
Crav^ord Avenue, were to be numbered.

At a special meeting, held on June 24, the offer
of the Boh. Engl. School at 18th St. was accepted.
The Association was to have its office there for
$10.00 a month. Joseph Spousta was elected Finan-
cial Secretary.

At the annual tour of inspection, held on Sep-
tember 22, special attention was given to the vault
for the storage of the dead.

At the meeting of November 6 an expression of
sympathy to the family of the deceased grave-digger,
Jos. Lahvic, was voted, and his son, Jos. A. Lahvic,
was intrusted with the duties of his father. The
bookkeeping was given to the financial secretary who
had to move to the cemetery.

It was reported that the artesian well was in
such a condition that any attempt to repair it would
be hopeless. Therefore it appeared necessary to build
a water-house. The plans were submitted at the
meeting of December 4 and approved. $100.00 was
given to the Bohemian schools for Christmas. The
semi-annual report was: receipts, $19,495:17; dis-
bursements, $8,178.34; cash balance, $11,316.83. It

57

was resolved to buy bonds for $10,000.00. When
that was done, the Association owned the following'
bonds: City of Chicago, $5,000.00; United States
$4,350.00; Village of Evanston, $2,000.00, and Chica-
go Water Bonds, $10,000.00.

In this semester 51 lots were sold for $4,849.00.
There were 510 burials, 18 free of charge.

New delegates in 1895 were: Praha Lodge I. O.
O. F. — Ign. Vavfinek, followed by Jar. Lenoch; Lin-
coln Lodge — Mat. Kozisek and Jos. 2orna ; Jifi Wash-
ington Lodge — Mart. Rezny and Jos. Rada; Cesky
Lev Court — V. Bartuska; Jan Zizka Lodge J. T. —
H. Suesmilich and Ant. Cermak; Svob. Obec — Jos.
Spiegelhauer and Al. Vafioucek; Palacky Lodge — Fr.
Fucik; Klacel Court — Fr. Brouk and Ant. Fingl ; Po-
krok Lodge — John Havlice; Ces. Koruna Lodge —
John Suda and F. J. Pechota.

1896

On January 8 $20.00 was donated to the Freeth.
Sunday School of Matice Skolska Ladies' Auxiliary.

The report showed that to the end of 1895 a
total of 1,786 lots had been sold. From the begin-
ning 10,544 burials were made.

On March 6 the vice-president, St. J. Halik, re-
signed from his office as well as from the member-
ship in the Association. The Board of Trustees re-
ported that a fountain for $328.00 was ordered.

At a special meeting of March 25 an amendment
to the charter, prepared by attorneys Jones and
Lusk, and cancelling the use of the surplus and profit
of the Association for educational and similar pur-
poses, was unanimously approved by 27 members
present. The reason for this change was that the
annual celebrations bringing a considerable profit
were discontinued and the Association was obliged
to save to the utmost and to use all profits only for
the improvement and decoration of the cemetery.

On April 1 it was resolved to start a reserve
fund. $15,000.00 were put aside for this purpose
immediately, the interest was to be added as well as
20 per cent from every lot sale, until the fund would

58

reach the amount of $40,000.00. Such an amount
was never to be drawn upon, and only the interest
from it was to be used for decorations and improve-
ments of the cemetery. This resolution was unani-
mous.

At the annual meeting on May 6 Fr. Mencl was
elected President; John Kfiz, Vice-President; Fr.
Ring, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Spousta, Fin. Secretary;
Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Fr. Fucik and Mart. Wolf,
Board of Trustees. The Recording Secretai-y was to
receive $25.00 a year as salary.

In June the Board of Trustees reported that the
old green-houses could not be repaired any more and
that it would be necessary to build new wooden
green-houses, together with a proper building for the
gardener's office. It was recommended that the city
office be given up as unnecessary.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep-
tember 27.

At the meeting of November 4 it was reported
that the cost of new green-houses and gardener's of-
fice was $5,624.55.

The financial secretary J. Spousta was removed
from office on account of malversations, but the
amount of $198.19, which was found missing, was
paid up by his guarantors on June 2, 1897, and this
unpleasant affair settled definitely.

The office of the financial secretary was moved
from the gate to the new gardener's house.

$100.00 was donated for Christmas celebrations
to the Bohemian Freeth. schools.

New delegates in 1896 were: Osveta Lodge —
John Slabihoud; Rip Lodge — Fr. Feujan; Pokrok
Lodge — John Havlice ; Lincoln Lodge — John Kosat-
ka; Klacel Court — Vojt. Sedlacek and John Dusek;
Jan 2izka Lodge J. T. — Ant. Zarobsky; Garfield
Lodge — Chas. Sramek, succeeded by Vac. Nekola;
Prokop Velky Lodge J. T. — Jos. Filip ; Sokol Slov.
Lipa — John Vanek; Vernost Lodge — John Forst;
Praha Lodge lOOF. — Vac. Horacek; Rovnost Lodge
— J. Dolezal; Vysehrad Lodge — Fr. Capouch ; Jan
Hus Lodge J. T. — Jos. Sinkule; Otakar Lodge, K. P.
— B. C. Legros.

59

1897

At a special meeting held January 27 a new
financial secretary was elected to succeed J. Spousta.
From among 30 candidates at the fourth ballot Fr.
Husak received 26 votes of 49 present.

The buildings of the cemetery were insured for
$3,400.00 for five years.

At the annual meeting on May 5 John Pecha
was elected President; J. Kfiz, Vice-President; J.
Filip, Rec. Secretary; F. Husak, Fin. Secretary; J»
Jurka, Treasurer; J. Sindelaf and J. A. SmejkaU
Board of Trustees.

On June 2 the first section adjoining the pond
was opened. Because of the fact that many people
of other nationalities buried their dead in the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery on account of the low price
of graves, it was resolved that the old prices would
be valid only for Bohemians and that the price for
other nationalities would be increased from 7 to 15
dollars.

The trouble about the artesian well was settled
at a special meeting of July 22. It was resolved to
follow the advice of experts and to sink it over 2,000
feet. Finally, at the depth of 2,160 feet, sufficient
water was found, 75 gallons a minute.

The old vault had become insufficient and obsolete,
and on July 7 the Association therefore resolved ta
build a new one. It was found that there was no
better place in the cemetery than that of the old
vault, but that it would be necessary to buy three
neighboring lots for the new building. This matter
was settled satisfactorily by the statement of the
owners of these three lots that they were willing to
exchange them for other lots. A special committee,
consisting of president Pecha, secretary Filip, mem-
bers of the Board of Trustees Sindelaf, Smejkal and
Fucik and of three specially elected members, H.
Kutta, Rud. Kapsa and V. Kolaf, submitted a de-
tailed report which recommended the building of a
modern two story tomb, with a ground-floor where
150 to 160 dead bodies could be stored in winter and
during hard frosts and with a large hall for funeral
ceremonies on the upper floor. The plans submitted

60

by Mr. J. V. Benes were approved and the work of
building started.

On September 1 it was resolved to amend the
statutes to conform with the changes in the charter
and all other resolutions passed in the meeting. A
committee was elected to draft the amendments (Jos.
A. Smejkal, Vac. Kolaf and John Pecha).

At the meeting of October 6 a letter from the
lawyer, Mr. Charles D. Lusk, was read calling the
attention of the Association to the sad end of Robert
H. Vickers. This great friend of the Bohemian na-
tion, author of ''History of Bohemia," the first story
of th^ Bohemian nation in English, a splendid orator
whose speech at the Comenius Tercentenary, held at
the Central Music Hall on March 30, 1892, would
never be forgoten, since its masterly pathos saved the
situation after a painful fiasco of the other speaker,
Ignatius Donnelly, who knew so little about the Bohe-
mian nation — this man of great merit died in dejec-
tion and poverty. His colleagues had to pay the
funeral costs and provide a grave at Forest Home
where Vickers now reposed forgotten. Mr. Lusk
therefore asked the Association to transfer Vicker's
body to the Bohemian National Cemetery and to
bury it there in a grave which would be marked with
a tablet carrying the inscription: "Here reposes
Vickers, English author of the History of Bohemia."
The letter so impressed all the delegates that they
resolved without any debate to comply with this re-
quest. Vickers was buried in the Bohemian National
Cemetery on October 17, 1897, and the above tablet
reminds all passers-by to render homage to the great
Czechophile.

On December 1 $110.00 was donated to 11 Bo-
hemian schools.

New delegates in 1897 were: Boh. Sharpshoot-
ers— Fr. Mudroch and John Mraz; Praha Lodge —
Jos. Cunat; Pravda Lodge — Rud. Kapsa; Lincoln
Lodge — Jos. Valentin and Ant. Radlicka; Garfield
Lodge — Chas. Sramek, succeeded by Jos. Kubik, and
Vac. Vaska; Klacel Court — Chas. Vittmer and John
Dusek; Jiri Washington Lodge — Fr. Ort; Ceska Ko-
runa Lodge — Ferd. Svoboda; Sokol Slov. Lipa — Jac.

61

Hrodej; Praha Lodge lOOF. — Chas. Novak; Otakar
Lodge, K. P. — Fr. Holub and Ant. Vopat.

1898

On New Year's the office of the National Ceme-
tery was moved to the new gardener's building.

On March 2 it was resolved to erect a big water-
tank in the water-house to distill the water and make
it soft, because the water from the artesian well was
too hard and not suitable for flowers, especially roses.

At the annual meeting on May 4 John Pecha
was reelected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President;
Jos. Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos.
Sindelaf, Jos. Smejkal and Fr. Fucik, Board of Trus-
tees; Fr. Stejskal, Vojt. Sedlacek and Jos. Matousek,
Financial Committee. Fr. Husak was reelected Finan-
cial Secretary, Leo Ine, gardener, and Jos. Lahvic,
grave-digger.

The entire property of the Bohemian National
Cemetery represented $170,803.02 (bonds, $26,350.00;
inventory, $131,723.00; debts for lots, $5,000.00;
grave decoration reserve, $1,250.00).

The Board of Trustees was instructed to secure
a Bohemian and an English speaker and to ask the
Bohemian-American Girls' Society to render suitable
songs at the Memorial Day Celebration.

It was resolved to issue identification cards to
the lot owners and other responsible persons for ad-
mittance to the cemetery on Sundays to stop the dis-
gracing of the cemetery by undesirable people.

The annual tour of inspection on August 30 was
marred by bad weather.

$200.00 was donated to 12 Bohemian Freeth.
Schools for Christmas.

The Fire Aid Society, one of the charter members
of the Association, disbanded, and its delegates, Vac.
Topinka and Rud. Soukup, were released from the
attendance of meetings from March 2 on.

New delegates this year were : Osveta Lodge —
Fr. Knytl ; Jan Hus Lodge J. T. — Vac. Ryba and Jos.
Sinkule; Lincoln Lodge — Vac. Sticha; Garfield Lodge
— Jos. Kroc; Jiff Washington Lodge — Fr. Ort, fol-

62

lowed by Chas. Raus; Rip Lodge — J. J. Vojta; Mor.
Slav. Ben. Society — John Komeraus and Jos. Dobry;
Ces. Delnicky Lodge — John Benes and John Cesak,
succeeded by Vac. Topinka and Chas. Benda; Vyse-
hrad Lodge — Jos. Skala and Jos. Fiala ; Narodni
Lodge — Vac. Trumpich, folowed by Fr. Duha and
Aug. Burian; Rovnost Lodge — Fr. Stejskal; Jan 2iz-
ka Lodge J. T. — Ant. Charvat; Vysehrad Lodge — Fr.
Capouch; Ceska Koruna Lodge — Jar. Vitek; Otakar
Lodge, K. P. — Fr. Milsic; Svobodna Obec — John Sta-
yer and Miss Marie Zeman.

1899

On January 4 the Association voted an expres-
sion of sympathy to the family of Joseph Matousek,
who died December 23, 1898. A committee of three,
Fr. Stejskal, J. A. Smejkal and John V. Benes, was
instructed to draft it and have it published in all Bohe-
mian papers. Jos. Matousek was sent by the Fire
Aid Society to the original committee which gave
birth to the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa-
tion on February 12, 1877. In this society the idea
of a Bohemian cemetery originated. On February
26, 1877, Matousek was elected chairman of the com-
mittee for the drafting of the first statutes of the
Association. He was elected President of the Associa-
tion eleven times; 1878-1886, 1888 and 1890.

On February 1 a wreath of flowers was donated
to the Klacel School Patronage for the KlaceFs Birth-
day Celebi:ation on April 9. As usual after the cele-
bration the wreath was sent to Belle Plaine, la., to
be laid upon the grave of Ladimir Klacel.

On May 3 the annual meeting was held. John
Pecha was reelected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-Presi-
dent; Jos. Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treas-
urer; Jos. Sindelar, Fr. Fucik and Jos. A. Smejkal,
Board of Trustees; Jos. Hora, Fr. Stejskal and Ferd.
Svoboda, Financial Committee. The financial secre-
tary Husak was reelected and his salary increased
to $60.00 a month. Additional paragraphs contain-
ing the rules for the new chapel-Vault, prepared by
a special committee (Fr. Ring, Mat. Sikyta and J. A.
Smejkal), were inserted into the statutes.

63

The Memorial Day Celebration was held on May
30. The English address was delivered by Judge
Ebresold, the Bohemian address by Prof. Boh. Simek
of the University of Iowa.

On March 31 the entire property of the Ceme-
tery amounted to $180,802.04 (inventory $142,427.75,
bonds $29,500.00, cash $2,987.90; debts for lots, etc.,
$5,836.39). There were 2,033 lots sold and 13,420
bodies buried. The cemetery had an area of 50
acres. Of these 20 acres were sold, 20 were re-
served for use and 10 covered by buildings. There
were still 1,462 lots for sale and about 8 acres for
rows which guaranteed sufficient space for burials
for the next 18 to 20 years.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep-
tember 13. This day the building committee (Jos.
Babka, chairman, Jos. Filip, secretary, Fr. Fucik, J. A.
Smejkal, Jos. Sindelaf, John Pecha, Chas. Novak and
V. Kolaf) officially dedicated the new Chapel-Vault
to its purpose. The final cost was $10,864.34. Sin-
cere thanks were expressed by the Association to the
chairman, Mr. Babka, and all other members of the
committee for their strenuous and unselfish services.

On October 4 the death of the grave-digger Lah-
vic was reported.

On December 6 $200.00 was donated to 12 Bo-
hemian Freeth. Schools.

New delegates this year were: Pravda Lodge —
A. Jifikovsky and Jos. Benes; Garfield Lodge — P.
Prazak, succeeded by Jos. Kubik, and J. B. Suster;
Lincoln Lodge — Tom. Lupac; Jifi Washington Lodge
— Jos. Srachta; Mor. Slav. Ben. Society — John Svec,
followed by Fr. Kratky, and Fr. Bubrle ; Klacel Court
— Fr. Liska; Praha Lodge — Vojt. Bartuska; Cesky
Lev Court — Phil. Cesal; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos.
Chylka; Palacky Lodge lOOF.— Mat. Sikyta; Jan
Zizka J. T. — Ign. Suesmilich ; Vysehrad Lodge — Jos.
Becvar; Sokol Slov. Lipa — Jos. Kostner; Osveta Lodge
— John Vysoky; Jungmann Lodge — Vac. Nekola.

64

F. B. ZDRUBEK

Co-founder of the Boh, Nat. Cemetery and author of
its first ''History."

Monument of Ladimir Klacel

Philosopher and Free Thought pioneer

Civil War Veterans Monument

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Spanish War Veterans Monument

1900

On February 7 P>. Stejskal and Jos. Hora re-
signed from the financial committee and Vac. Kolaf
and Jos. Kostner were elected to fill their places.

The president, John Pecha, was instructed to ex-
plain to a new C. S. P. S. club, which wanted to as-
sume the name of Robert H. Vickers, and requested
such information — what R. H. Vicker's merits with
regard to the Bohemian nation were.

On April 4 complaints were presented that Mr.
Laziiovsky had started the erection of a dance hall
almost opposite the entrance to the cemetery. This
if allowed would be a disgrace. The committee was
instructed to enter into negotiations with Mr. Laziiov-
sky, and in case of his refusal, to go to law.

At the annual meeting on May 2 John Pecha
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr.
Ring, Rec. Secretary; Fr. Husak, Fin. Secretary; Jos.
Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smejkal, Fr. Vytlacil and
Jos. Sindelaf, Board of Trustees; Jos. Kostner, J. Bec-
var and Vac. Kolaf, Financial Committee; Leo Ine,
gardener.

On June 6 a letter of the Straz Osvojenych was
read which pleaded in favor of the modern burials
by cremation. This matter was referred to the Board
of Trustees. — It was resolved to sell lots in the new-
ly opened section for $120 to $150 with exception of
corner lots and to open another section with cheaper
lots, for $60 to $100.

The annual tour of inspection was set for August
26.

On July 11 an expression of sympathy for the
family of the deceased Joseph Najemnrk, a delegate
for many years, was voted and on this occasion also,
the rules on how to honor the deceased delegates
were approved.

On August 1 the women delegates of the Sester-
ska Podporujici Jednota visited the cemetery and
were accompanied by the Board of Trustees.

A. J. Smejkal reported that he had inspected
the Graceland Crematory which was built in 1893 for
$4,000.00. From the beginning to the end of June

65

of this year 610 bodies were cremated there. The
fee was $25.00, the expense of the crematory $10.00.
After a lengthy debate this matter was postponed.

It was recommended to open a new section near
the Boh.-Amer. Veterans' Monument,

On October 3 four Bohemian lodges and next
month seven other lodges sent complaints that clamor-
ous picnics were held in gardens situated close to
the cemetery. The secretary was instructed to send
a written request to all societies represented in the
Association not to hold picnics in the neighborhod of
the cemetery and to help keep order.

The board of Trustees asked for authorization
to buy 10 adjacent acres. Approval was given, and
in December the board reported that 10 acres were
bought from Mr. Lange, at $750.00 an acre.

$200.00 was donated to 12 Bohemian schools.

It was resolved to give an order for a portrait
of the deceased Jos. Matousek to the well-known
artist, Mrs. Koupal-Lusk. $100.00 was voted for this
purpose.

New delegates this year were: Ces. Lev Court —
Fr. Vytlacil; Vysehrad Lodge — Vac. Bambula; Ver-
nost Lodge — Ign. Plechaty; Jifi Washington Lodge —
Chas. Raus; Klacel Court — Vac. Brouk, succeeded by
Vac. Koutnik; Lincoln Lodge — V. Pospisil; Ces.-Na-
rodni Lodge — Mart. Wolf; Jan 2izka Lodge J. T. —
John Vodak; Pravda Lodge — John Pfibyl; Vratislav
Lodge — Vac. Hejdanek; Ceska Koruna Lodge — F. J.
Pechota; Jungmann Lodge — Fr. Novak.

1901

On January 2 an amendment of the statutes w^as
accepted unanimously upon motion of J. Kostner.
The change provided that the business year would
begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

Upon motion of J. A. Smejkal it was resolved to
permit no flowers be brought in from the outside
and planted upon graves of the Bohemian National
Cemetery, in view of the present arrangement that
watering and mowing of grass was done free of
charge.

66

On March 6 new rules for the Memorial Day cele-
brations recommended by the Board of Trustees were
approved. To honor the memory of Bohemian vet-
erans of the Civil and Spanish Wars the Board was
authorized to make all preliminary preparations, to
invite speakers and military and other societies, as
well as to procure a band and all necessary decora-
tions.

At the annual meeting on May 1 John Pecha
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jos.
Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. Sin-
delaf and Fr. Vytlacil, Board of Trustees; Jos. Bec-
var, Fr. Stejskal and Vac. Kolaf, Financial Commit-
tee; Fr. Husak, bookkeeper; Leo Ine, gardener.

On June 5 the Bohemian Old Peoples' Home As-
sociation submitted a request for a $15,000 loan. It
sold its property at Bensonville and bought another
one near the cemetery from Mr. A. Pergler. After
a thorough debate the loan was granted at 4 percent
interest for 5 years, guaranteed by first mortgage.

Jos. Matousek's portrait v/as placed in the office
of the bookkeeper.

The annual tour of inspection took place on Au-
gust 18.

On November 6 the Board of Trustees submitted
plans for the rebuilding of the water-house for about
$1,659.00.

Upon motion of J. A. Smejkal, $300.00 was do-
nated to twelve Bohemian Freethought schools and
the monthly, ''Svobodna Skola." The amount was di-
vided according to the number of pupils in each
school, from $16.00 to $40.00. Jos. Kostner donated
his first yearly salary of $30.00 to the Matice Skol-
ska, $15.00 to the one in Chicago and $15.00 to the
one in Prague.

New delegates this year were : Ces.-Narodni
Lodge — Jos. Husak, followed by Fr. Hrdlicka; Klacel
Court — Fr. J. Tesaf and Fr. Siska; Mor. Slav. Ben.
Society — Buberle and John Hospes; Vratislav Lodge
— Dr. Drasal ; Lincoln Lodge — Mat. Kozisek ; Garfield
Lodge — Otto Rychtafik; Boh. Sharpshooters — Jos.
Mraz; Otakar Lodge, K. P. — Jos. Rothbauer; Vernost
Lodge — Ant. Petr; Svob. Obec — Vac. Kehak.

67

1902— THE YEAR OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY

On January 8 the Board of Trustees reported
that the insurance was increased to $4,500.00. The
Board was instructed to submit suggestions for the
celebration of the jubilee of the Association due this
year on April 11.

On February 5 it was resolved to publish the his-
tory of the first 25 years of the Bohemian National
Cemetery.

On March 5 the memory of the deceased mem-
ber of the Association and of the Board of Trustees,
Joseph Sindelaf, was honored by a resolution, a copy
of which was sent to the family.

A special committee, V. Topinka, J. V. Benes and
Fr. Ring, was elected to help the Board of Trustees in
the publication of the history of the Cemetery.

At the annual meeting on May 7 John Pecha
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President;
Jos. Filip, Rec. Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos.
Smejkal, Jos. Kostner and Mat. Sikyta, Board of
Trustees; Becvaf, Vytlacil and Benes, Financial Com-
mittee.

The request of several well known citizens that
F. Vonasek, a Catholic who had always used abusive
language when he talked about Freethinkers, be
buried free of charge in the Bohemian National Ceme-
tery, because the Catholics denied permission for his
burial in the Catholic cemetery, was approved.

According to the financial statement the property
of the Bohemian National Cemetery on December 31,
1901, aru.ounted to $232,748.17 (cash, $4,243.37;
bonds, $69,000.00; inventory, $154,491.30, and debts
for lots and grave decoration $5,013.50). The area
of the cemetery was 60 acres with 3,740 lots, of
which 2,374 were sold and 1,366 for sale. The total
receipts of the Association from the beginning to Dec.
31, 1901, were $452,241.18, the disbursements, $447,-
997.81.

The Memorial Day celebration was a huge suc-
cess. The attendance was enormous. The Bohemian ad-
dress was delivered by Leo J. Palda of Cedar Rapids,
la.; the English address by attorney W. S. Elliot, Jr.

68

On June 4 the Board of Trustees submitted a
new scale by which the wages of workingmen em-
ployed by the cemetery were increased. They were
divided into three classes: first class (skilled men),
$2.00 a day; second class, $1.75, and third class,
$1.50, for a 10-hour work-day. Further salary recom-
mendations were : Gardener-Superintendent, $90.00
a month; bookkeeper, $70.00 a month, and treasurer,
$50.00 a year. All these recommendations were ap-
proved. Only the treasurer's salary remained un-
changed, $30.00 per year, because Jos. Jurka declared
that he was satisfied with this amount.

On July 2 it was resolved that anybody who
got permission to bury a body in a lot not belonging
to him had to present the written permission of the
owner of the lot and the so-called "deed" at the
office of the cemetery.

At the meeting of August 6 the first step was
made which led later to the erection of the first Bohe-
mian crematorium in the world. The Bohemian-
American Cremation Society founded on May 26,
1901, in Chicago asked for the election of a commit-
tee which would attend the meetings of the society
and take part in its deliberations. After a lengthy
debate such a committee was elected: J. A. Smejkal,
V. Rehak and Fr. J. Pechota.

The Jubilee Celebration was combined with the
annual visitation on August 31. Jos. Kostner, mem-
ber of the Board of Trustees, delivered a summary
statement summing up all the important facts of the
first 25 years of the Bohemian National Cemetery.

The best illustration of changed conditions are
the following figures: in the first six months of the
cemetery, November, 1877 to April, 1878, there were
67 burials for which $158.50 was paid. In the same
period after 24 years, November, 1901 to April, 1902,
there were 414 burials for which $1,604.00 was paid.
On April 30, 1902, the last burial number was 16,179.

At the meeting on September 3 an expression of
sympathy to the family of John V. Benes who for
many years was superintendent of the cemetery and
member of the Board of Trustees was voted.

69

An order for 5,000 bound copies of "The His-
tory of the Bohemian National Cemetery during the
first 25 years of its existence" by F. B. Zdrubek, was
given to the "Svornost" for $1,025.

On October 1 the Board of Trustees reported that
60 and % acres of land north of the cemetery were
bought from W. Peterson for $60,000 and that the
purchase would become valid in six weeks, if permis-
sion for the extension of the cemetery would be ob-
tained.

On November 5 the Board of Trustees reported
that an announcement was inserted in Bohemian pa-
pers, stating that the Association was about to accept
loans in a total of $60,000 from Bohemian societies
and individuals. The purpose was to pay for the
above mentioned 60 acres without selling any bonds.
Such a sale would have meant a considerable loss,
because the prices of securities were low on account
of the financial depression. The decision of the
Board was approved and it was resolved to pay 5
percent interest.

On December 3 it was reported that the loans
accepted amounted to $56,220 and that the 60 acres
purchased were paid in full.

A New Year's donation of $500.00 for the Bohe-
mian Freethought Schools in Chicago was approved,
and the officers and the Board of Trustees were in-
structed to distribute that amount at their best dis-
cretion.

A long debate was started about the erection of
a Bohemian Crematory. Fr. J. Pechota, V. Rehak,
Ort and V. Kolaf advocated the idea enthusiastically,
and finally the committee was instructed to submit
a more definite report.

Upon motion of Fr. Ring it was resolved to pro-
vide the grave of the child of Mr. and Mrs. Brada,
the first child buried in the cemetery, with a memorial
tablet, to cost not more than $50.00.

A new map of the cemetery was submitted by
August Petrtyl.

New delegates in 1902 were: Czechoslovak
Veterans Society "Marshall Radecky" (new member)
— Vojt. Suchy and Ed. Oberman; Boh. Sharpshoot-

70

ers — Ant. Mraz; Vernost Lodge — Ant. Petr; Jifi
Washington Lodge — Fr. Ort; Ceska Koruna Lodge —
John Florian; Jan Hus Lodge J. T. — John Benes;
Klacel Court — Vac. Paara and Fr. Masek ; Rip Lodge
— Vine. Starman; Cesko-Narodni Lodge — T. Meskan;
Otakar Lodge, K. P. — J. Rothbauer; Pravda Lodge —
J. V. Matejka.

1903

On January 7 F. J. Pechota was elected mem-
ber of the financial committee to fill the place of the
deceased J. V. Benes.

At the annual meeting on May 6 John Pecha
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President;
Jos. J. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; all
unanimously. F. Kostner and Fr. Vytlacil were elect-
ed members of the Board of Trustees; J. V. Matejka,
Jos. Becvaf and Fr. J. Pechota, members of the Audit-
ing Committee. Fr. Husak was reelected as bookkeep-
er and Leo Ine renamed as chief gardener and super-
intendent of the cemetery.

The Board of Trustees reported that a new^ sec-
tion. No. 12, would be opened, with lots 14x17 selling
for $125 and $133. It was recommended to open also
a section for people of less means, selling 6x12 lots
for $25.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Au-
gust 16.

On September 2 upon motion of Vac. Kolai* and
Fr Stejskal it was resolved to send 1,000 crowns to
flood and hail sufferers in Bohemia in care of the
daily "Narodni Listy" in Prague, the editors of which
were to distribute the amount among the worst suf-
ferers.

The extension of green-houses was approved.
Jos. A. Smejkal as member of the Board of Trustees
reported that he had succeeded in freeing the ceme-
tery of real estate taxes.

At the meeting of October 7 the delegates John
Pecha and J. V. Matejka reported that the Old
Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum Association had
a sum on hand which it would like to loan to the

71

Cemetery Association until it would start with the
building. The offer was accepted, and the treasurer,
J. Jurka, received $4,000 as a 4% loan.

On November 4 it was resolved that the house
where Mrs. Lahvic Jr. still lived after the death of
Mrs. Lahvic Sr. be vacated and the use of it with fuel
be given to the bookkeeper, Fr. Husak, from New
Year on as an addition to his salary.

At the meeting of December 2 the New Year's
gift to the Bohemian Freethought schools was in-
creased to $1,000.00 by a great majority of votes.
This proof of a rare understanding of the significance
of these schools for our national and society life was
greeted by the Bohemian public with warm satisfac-
tion and recognition. The officers and the Board of
Trustees were authorized to distribute the amount.
The only voice of disapproval was heard from the
Otakar Lodge, Knights of Pythias, which sent a letter
of indignation protesting that the Association could
dare to donate such a large amount to the Bohemian
Freeth. Schools. The letter was accepted and ignored.

The Bohemian Slavonian Association in Prague
asked for a directory of Bohemian societies of Chi-
cago. The secretary was instructed to send them a
list as complete as possible and also the "History of
the Boh. Nat. Cemetery."

1904

To the meeting of January 6 Rev. Leo Pociechow-
ski, pastor of the Independent Polish St. Barbara
Parish, sent a letter inquiring whether his parishion-
ers could be buried in the Bohemian National Ceme-
tery. The bookkeeper Husak was instructed to an-
swer that everybody who would observe the rules of
the cemetery and pay the fee could perform burials
in this cemetery.

The treasurer of the Old Peoples Home Associa-
tion, Jos. Bozovsky, sent another check for $1,000.00
asking that the obligation be issued for the total of
$5,000.00. On April 6 and on August 3 the same
treasurer sent again checks for $1,000 each as tem-
porary loans to the Cemetery Association.

72

At the annual meeting on May 4 John Pecha was
elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; J. J.
Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej-
kal and Vac. Topinka, Board of Trustees; F. J. Pe-
chota, Thorn. David and J. V. Matejka, Auditing
Committee.

Garfield Lodge No. 90 C. S. P. S. sent a letter
asking the Association to stop in the future all such
lamentable, events as that committed by the Catho-
lic Rev. Pelikan v^ho in his funeral speech at the
Bohemian cemetery had said: **You v^ill repose here
in God while the other dead bodies are buried here
like dogs and carrions!" This affair was ended at
July meeting by a declaration of the Board of Trus-
tees that that gentleman "did not behave like a peace-
able man and a teacher of his people, but like a par-
tisan holding in contempt those who were not in his
power." The secretary was instructed to write a let-
ter to Rev. Pelikan in this sense.

On June 1 a resolution of sympathy was voted
for the family of the deceased Vaclav Kolaf who had
been a delegate to the Cemetery Association for many
years. Ed. Holy, T. David and Mat. Kozisek were
elected as a committee to draft the resolution.

On September 7 a resolution of sympathy drafted
by Jos. F. Plhak, E. Frydl and Ed. Holy was voted
to the family of the deceased delegate, J. V. Matejka.

Fr. Vytlacil having resigned from the Board of
Trustees, Vac. Kolacek was elected in his stead.

On December 7 it was reported that a new sec-
tion was opened with single grave lots for $16.00
and eight grave lots for $80.00.

The contract with the Chicago Telephone Com-
pany was renewed from January 1, 1905, at a rate
of $135.00 a year for 1,200 calls.

The Board of Trustees submitted a detailed re-
port of the status of the Bohemian Freethought
Schols in Chicago. There were 12 such schools and
2 singing schools with 1,600 boys and girls. A dona-
tion of $1,000.00 was voted for them and the Board
of Trustees was instructed to distribute that money.
Upon request of the Straz Osvojenych and upon mo-
tion of J. A. Smejkal a donation of $200.00 was

73

voted for the Blue Island Ave. Bohemian Reading
Room and the Board of Trustees was instructed to
buy good Bohemian books for this amount and to
send them to the City Public Library as a gift for
the above Reading Room.

In consequence of reiterated complaints that
flowers were torn out and valuable bouquets and
ribbons were stolen from graves it was resolved that
everyone caught in the act should be brought to the
office and eventually to court. Further it was re-
solved that all those who wished to take bushes or
flowers from their graves in order to winter them at
home, had to get the permission from the cemetery
superintendent and show in every case what they
were taking home.

1905

At the meeting of January 4 new delegates were
initiated.

A special committee (J. M. Kralovec, Jos. Sin-
kule, Fr. Fischer, F. J. Pechota and Jac. Hrodej)
sent to the Forest Home cemetery to see how a
machine for digging of drainage pipe ditches was
working, recommended the purchase of such a ma-
chine from Van Buren, Heck & Marvin Company at
Findlay, O., for $1,500.00. The superintendent, Ine,
was instructed to go to Findlay to purchase one.
The same was delivered in the first part of June.

A long debate was caused by the question of
iDurials of poor people. In view of the fact that the
benevolence of the Association had been often mis-
used it was resolved that in the future each under-
taker must pay for every burial, but in case of poor
people the fee would be returned if the respective
request would be signed by at least five trustworthy
neighbors.

The Old Peoples' Home Association sent a fur-
ther $1,000.00 to the account of the temporary loan
to the Cemetery Association. The total loan amount-
ed in July to $14,000.00.

At the annual meeting of May 3 John Pecha was
elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Jos. J.

Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; all of them
unanimously. Vac. Kolacek and Jos. Kostner were
elected members of the Board of Trustees, and Long-
in Tuma, F. J. Pechota and Thom. David, members
of the Auditing Committee. Fr. Husak was reelected
as bookkeeper and L. Ine as superintendent and
gardener.

On June 7 a resolution of sympathy was voted
for the family of the deceased secretary Joseph J.
Filip. The resolution was drafted by a special com-
mittee, Stejskal, Friedl and Pitte. As a temporary
secretary for this meeting F. J. Ring was elected, and
at the end of the meeting Stan. Halik was elected
Secretary.

On August 2 a new member was accepted, Robert
H. Vickers Lodge No. 63 C. S. P. S., which sent J. J.
Krai and Chas. Scheiner as its delegates.

On September 6 the Board of Trustees and the
Secretary were instructed to publish in the news-
papers a request to all societies whereby they were
asked not to allow their picnic bands to play in the
vicinity of the cemetery from noon to 2 P. M. on
Sundays, this being the time when funerals and cere-
monies took place in the cemetery.

The Board of Trustees was instructed to submit
plans for modern waiting rooms for the public near
the gate and also to start the extension of homes of
the gardener and bookkeeper at once.

On October 4 the Board of Trustees reported
that Mr. Jens Jensen, a prominent horticultural ex-
pert and superintendent of the Chicago West Parks
system, was invited to lay out the newly bought 60
acres so that the cemetery would have a pleasing
appearance and the work in that section could be
started as soon as it would be necessary.

It was resolved that the fee for deposition of an
urn with ashes be $4.00 if the body was cremated in
the Graceland Cemetery crematorium.

At the meeting of December 6 a donation of
$1,000.00 was voted for the Bohemian Freethought
Schools.

It was resolved to establish a card system in the
office to make the finding of dates, installments,

75

ownership of lots, etc., easier and to order uniforms
for the grave-diggers.

1906

At the meeting of March 7, the survey made by
Mr. Jens Jensen was approved and the bill for $600.00
directed paid.

On April 4 the Board of Trustees and a special
committee, consisting of Messrs. Kralovec, Waska,
Stejskal, Rehak and Bartusek, recommended the plans
submitted by the architect Rusy for the gate annex
and remodeling of the gate. The cost was to be
about $15,000.00.

At the annual meeting on May 2 the salary of
the president was increased to $50.00 and that of
the members of the Board of Trustees to $100.00
each, without any other additional pay. John Pecha
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; St.
Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej-
kal and J. M. Kralovec, members of the Board of Trus-
tees; F. J. Pechota, Thom. David and L. Tuma, mem-
bers of the Auditing Committee ; Jos. Kostner, mem-
ber of the Building Committee (instead of J. M.
Kralovec who resigned). A special committe was
appointed to revise and amend the statutes: Jos. J.
Krai, R. L. Pitte and Stan. Halik.

On June 6 the Board of Trustees reported that
the Association now owned various good bonds
amounting to $100,000.00.

On August 1 the Board of Trustees reported that
the 50th anniversary of the death of Karel Havlicek-
Borovsky who died on July 29, 1856, in Prague, was
honored by a special flov/er decoration with a bust
of the Bohemian national hero and martyr.

On November 6 the contracts for the new gate
were approved. The total cost was $13,677, and
besides this $250.00 was paid to the architect Rusy
for his services. On November 11 the foundation-
stone was laid and documents with names of officers
and delegates, the statutes, the History of the ceme-
tery, local newspapers, etc., were sealed into it.

76

On December 5 a committee of the Ceska Straz,
consisting of Messrs. C. G. Foucek and Dr. Semerak,
appeared before the meeting and asked for assign-
ment of a place for the Havlicek monument. The
request was granted and the Board of Trustees au-
thorized to settle all details with the Ceska Straz.

The following donations were voted: $1,000.00
for the Bohemian Freethought Schools and $50.00 for
the Czechoslav Immigrants' Home in Baltimore, Md.

1907

On February 6 an invitation to the Freethink-
ers' Convention was accepted and Fr. Mencl and St.
J. Halik elected as delegates.

A delegation of the Cremation Association, con-
sisting of Messrs. Jos. Bufiata, Jos. Hejno and Ant.
Trefil, appeared before the meeting and submitted
reasons for the erection of a crematorium at the ceme-
tery. The Board of Trustees was instructed to keep
the realization of this idea in mind.

On March 6 a donation of $50.00 for the Free-
thinkers' Convention was approved.

At the annual meeting of May 1 John Pecha was
elected President; Chas. Kopecky, Vice-President;
St. J. Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; V. Ko-
lacek and J. M. Kralovec, members of the Board of
Trustees; and F. J. Pechota, L. Tuma and Th. David,
members of th6 Auditing Committee.

The Board of Trustees reported that V. J. Luiiak,
secretary of the C. S. P. S. National Supreme Lodge,
and Vice-Governor L. J. Sherman were invited as
Memorial Day speakers.

Two donations were voted : $50.00 for the tJstf ed-
ui Matice Skolska in Bohemia and $50.00 to the
widow of an old cemetery employee, Mrs. Zacek.

On June 5 the request of the Freethinkers' Con-
vention to build a speaker's tribune at Klacel's monu-
ment for the day of the celebration held there on
June 16 was granted.

It was resolved to add $10.00 to the monthly
salary of the bookkeeper. The Board of Trustees
was instructed to investigate the financial status of

77

T. B. Potter, from whom bonds were being bought
for the Association, in order to prevent any possibi-
lity of financial losses.

On July 8 the Supreme Lodge C. S. J. became a
member, with Fr. Dostal and Jos. Doudera as dele-
gates.

On September 4 the architect reported the new
gate finished.

On October 2 it was resolved that each lot
owner be permitted to erect only one monument on
his lot and that monuments on graves in sections
must not be more than 2 feet wide, one foot high
and 6-12 inches thick and must be only of granite.

On November 6 a resolution drafted by R. L.
Pitte, Longin Tuma and Vac. Topinka and express-
ing the most sincere sympathy to the family of the
deceased mem.ber, Joseph Kostner, was voted.

The Board of Trustees reported that experts
found the financial status of bonds owned by the
Association favorable.

New Year's donations were voted as follows :
$1,200.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools,
$300.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asy-
lum, $5.00 to the Narodni Jednota Severoceska in
Bohemia.

1908

On February 5 the statute amendments drafted
by a special committee, consisting of E. Frydl, Chas.
Novak, F. J. Ring and M. Wolf were adopted. The
duties of the bookkeeper, assistant bookkeeper, super-
intendent, etc., v/ere clearly defined by these provi-
sions.

L. Tuma was appointed assistent bookkeeper for
a termx of 14 months with a salary of $70.00 a month.

The Bohemian American Cremation Association
sent a committee (J. Hejno, Fr. Kubec and Dr. Ant.
Mueller) to the meeting which elected a committee
consisting of V. ftehak, V. Waska and Ant. Charvat
to discuss all the details of the question of a Bohe-
mian crematory.

On March 4 it was resolved that cemetery em-

78

ployees must avoid all religious demonstration at
funerals.

On April 1 a delegation of the Jednota Ceskych
Dam (Bohemian Ladies' Union, Mrs. B. Ludvik and
Smrcek as delegates) appeared and presented the
request for co-operation of the Association at the cele-
bration of the unveiling of the Pavla Cechova tomb-
stone. The Board of Trustees was instructed to help
to the utmost in the preparatory work. — The request
of the joint committee for the celebration of the 100th
birthday anniversary of the late Ladimir Klacel was
also granted.

A donation of $50.00 was voted for the Palacky
School.

The crematorium committee submitted a report
after which it was resolved to wait for the results of
the newest cremation systems.

At the annual meeting on May 6 John Pecha
was elected President; Chas. Kopecky, Vice-Presi-
dent; St. J. Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer;
Jos. A. Smejkal and J. M. Kralovec, members of the
Board of Trustees; Th. David, J. H. Cerny and John
Klaus, members of the Auditing Committee. Fr. Hu-
sak was reelected bookkeeper and Leo Ine, cemetery
superintendent.

It was resolved that the Board of Trustees be
obliged to report to the Association what bonds were
offered to the board for purchase.

On June 3 the Board of Trustees reported that
county drainage bonds were purchased for $9,668.41.
The salary of the cemetery superintendent was in-
creased to $125.00 a month.

J. J. Krai resigned from the statute committee
and C. R. Walleck was elected to fill the vacancy.

On July 1 it was resolved to buy only Cook
county and drainage canal bonds in the future.

It was further resolved to take part in the cele-
bration of the unveiling of the tombstone on the grave
of the author, Pavla Cechova, and to hold the annual
tour of inspection on the same day.

On October 7 the delegates honored the memo-
ry of the deceased delegate M. Wolf by rising from
their chairs. The recommendation of the Board of

79

Trustees to donate the burying place for the deceased
Vac. Kuchaf, a soldier in the U. S. Army, was ap-
proved.

On December 2 M. Kozisek was elected dele-
gate to the Association for the welfare of Bohemian
Saturday and Sunday Freethought Schools. A writ-
ten motion of Ferd. Svoboda to call a conference to
discuss the organization of a central body for the
management of all Bohemian Freethought Schools
was referred to the above Association.

The following donations were voted: $2,000.00
for the Bohemian Freethought Schools and for the
Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum and $100.00
for the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani. To facilitate a
just distribution the secretary was instructed to ask
all local schools to submit reports on their number
of pupils and teachers.

1909

At the annual meeting of May 5 John Pecha was
elected President; John Bouse, Vice-President; St. J.
Hali'k, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. M. Kra-
lovec and R. L. Pitte, members of the Board of Trus-
tees; John Klaus, Th. David and V. H. Cerny, mem-
bers of the Auditing Committee.

On June 2 a committee, consisting of Chas. Ko-
pecky, Chas. Novak and J. W. Egermayer, was elect-
ed to draft a resolution of sympathy to the family of
the deaceased delegate Fr. Vytlacil.

Judge Kersten was the English speaker at the
Memorial Day celebration.

On July 7 R. L. Pitte was appointed delegate
to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani Convention at Iowa
City, la. — The annual tour of inspection was set for
the second Sunday in September.

On September 8 the Board of Trustees reported
that three visitors from Bohemia who came to Chica-
go for the Sokol gymnastic drill and competitive exer-
cises had been invited to the National cemetery.

On October 6 the sad news of the death of the
chief gardener and cemetery superintendent, Leo Ine,
was reported. The president praised warmly the

80

meritorious work of the deceased for the perfection
of the Bohemian National Cemetery and asked the
present delegates to honor the memory of the lament-
ed by rising from their chairs whereupon a resolution
of sympathy was voted. Chas. Novak, Vac. Topinka
and J. J. Jelinek were appointed to draft the same.

On November 3 a committee, consisting of J. J.
Jelinek, Fr. Masek and V. jRehak was elected to draft
a resolution of indignation, condemning the execution
of the great freethinker, Francisco Ferrer, in Spain.

On December 1 the following donations were
voted: $2,000.00 for the Bohemian Freethought
Schools and $1,000.00 for the Bohemian Old Peoples'
Home and Orphan Asylum.

Longin Tuma was elected Cemetery Superin-
tendent.

1910

At the January meeting the delegates honored
the memory of the deceased delegate Charles Spirek
by rising from their chairs.

On April 6 Bohumir Velisek was appointed assis-
tant bookkeeper.

At the annual meeting on May 4 John Pecha was
elected President; John Bouse, Vice-President; St. J.
Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. A. Smej-
kal and Chas. Kopecky, members of the Board of
Trustees; Thom. David, V. H. Cerny and John Klaus,
members of the Auditing Committee. — Longin Tuma
was reelected cemetery superintendent and F. Husak,
bookkeeper.

The Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum As-
sociation sent an invitation to the celebration of the
dedication of their building. The president requested
the delegates to attend.

State Attorney Wyman was English speaker and
Dr. Jar. E. S. Vojan, Bohemian speaker, at the Mem-
orial Day celebration.

A special meeting was held on June 29 to settle
the question of a donation for the Havlicek Monu-
ment. 37 delegates were present and a delegation
of the Havlicek Monument Association, consisting of

81

V. B. Sedlacek, T. G. Polivka, F. J. Benes, Mrs. A.
Hladky and Mrs. L. Benes, appeared before the meet-
ing. After a live debate a donation of $1,500 to the
fund for the Havlicek Monument was voted, v^here-
by the Bohemian National Cemetery performed its
patriotic duty in a very honorable v^ay.

At the annual tour of inspection on August 14
special attention v^as paid to the tract of land offered
to the cemetery by the Illinois Trust and Savings
Bank. The land measured 60 acres and the price
asked was $55,000.

President Pecha and secretary Halik were elect-
ed delegates to the Havlicek Monument Association.
Bohemian American Camp No. 30 United Vet-
erans was admitted as a member. Math. Cerny and
Albert Machacek were initiated as delegates.

Ferd. Svoboda and V. Sustr were appointed dele-
gates to the Bohemian Freethought School Associa-
tion.

At the September meeting a vote was taken
about the intended purchase of 60 acres. 22 votes
were for the motion, 28 against it. The future with
its lack of space in the cemetery and the soaring
prices of land showed that this vote was very un-
fortunate.

On December 7 the following donations were
voted: $2,000.00 to the Boh. Freeth. Schools, $500.00
to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum, $25.00
to National Slovak School, $25.00 to Matice Vyssiho
Vzdelani and $25.00 to Boh. Benevolent Society.

1911

On January 4 the Board of Trustees reported
that City of Chicago intended to purchase the tract
of land which had been offered to the cemetery and
another 100 acres and to build a municipal tubercu-
losis sanitarium there. Upon the advice of Alderman
Cermak it was resolved to protest against such an
institution in the vicinity of the cemetery and to sign
petitions against the purchase of that land by the
city.

82

A donation of $25.00 was voted to the Bohe-
mian American Press Bureau.

On February 1 it was reported that the protest
against the purchase of the above mentioned land
was fruitless and that the city had bought the tract.

A new committee, consisting of Fr. Mencl, Dr. A.
Radesinsky and A. Kapsa, was elected on March 1 to
study the crematorium question and to work out pre-
liminaries.

On April 5 it was resolved to increase the salaries
of the officers. The president and the secretary were
to receive $100.00 each per year, the treasurer,
$250.00, without any further extra pay, and the mem-
bers of the Board of Trustees, $150.00 each, per year.

A delegation of the Bohemian American Crema-
tory Association (J. W. Egermayer, Dr. Fr. Iska and
Dr. A. Mueller) appeared before the meeting to ex-
plain the situation, regarding the erection of a crema-
torium. After their addresses the amount of $100.00
was voted for the preliminary work.

At the annual meeting on May 3 John Pecha was
elected President; E. Frydl, Vice-President; St. J.
Halik, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; V. Psenicka
and Chas. Kopecky, members of the Board of Trus-
tees, and V. H. Cerny, Th. David and J. Klaus, mem-
bers of the Auditing Committee.

A special meeting was held on May 18 to dis-
cuss the motions, regarding several statute amend-
ments and to decide about the offers for the erection
of greenhouses. As to the latter, the offer of J. G.
Maninger Co. was accepted.

The motion of V. Ruzicka and V. H. Filip recom-
mended that elections be held at the January meet-
ing. But by 19 votes against 6 it v/as decided to hold
elections at the May meeting and in the present
way.

The motion of Rudolph Kapsa to increase the
memJoership fee to $1,000.00 and all other motions,
regarding statute amendments, were rejected.

On June 7 it was resolved to send letters of
thanks to Messrs. Cermak, Mangasarian and Gaske
v/ho had delivered the addresses at the Memorial Day
celebration.

83

On August 2 the recommendation of the Board
of Trustees to raise the prices of graves from Sep-
tember 1 on was approved.

The delegates of the Association, attending the
sessions of the Havlicek Monument Association, re-
ported that the celebration of the unveiling of the
Karel Havlicek Monument at Douglas Park on July 30
met with remarkable success.

On September 6 it was reported that all prelimi-
nary work for the erection of a crematorium had been
done and that it only remained to secure services of
an expert to choose the best cremation system. It
was resolved that V. Dobias, Jos. Ringl and Jos. Hla-
dovec be added to the present committee and that
these with the officers form the committee for the
definite work.

On October 4 the delegates honored the mem-
ory of the deceased editor and co-founder of the Bo-
hemian National Cemetery, Fr. B. Zdrubek, by rising
from their chairs and a committee (Dr. A. Radesin-
sky, J. M. Kralovec, Fr. Mencl, E. Frydl and Jos. Hla-
dovec) was elected to draft a resolution of sympathy.

The Bohemian American Camp No. 30 United
Veterans sent a letter expressing thanks for the plac-
ing of monuments donated by the U. S. government.

On November 1 the green-houses were reported
finished.

At the December meeting the following dona-
tions were voted: $25.00 to the Nat. Slovak School,
$25.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani, $2,000.00
to the Bohemian Freethought Schools and $500.00 to
the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum.

An approval was expressed, regarding the re-
ported intention of the Old Peoples' Home Associa-
tion to transfer the inn and restaurant to the so-
called "Point" of its land, and it was resolved to re-
quest the Association not to allow any undesirable
elements to attend the picnics, held in its gardens.

1912

On January 3 a donation of $25.00 was voted
for the Bohemian American Press Bureau.

84

On February 7 the Bohemian American Crema-
tion Association was admitted a member.

On March 6 Dr. Radesinsky resigned from the
crematorium committee and Jos. W. Egermayer was
elected to fill the vacancy. A new contract for un-
limited calls was signed with the Telephone Company.

On April 3 the workingmen, employed by the
cemetery, presented a complaint that wages were not
justly apportioned. A committee (C. Fiala, J. Hlado-
vec, J. Komorous, J. Spevak and J. J. Benes) was
elected to settle the complaint.

The crematorium committee reported that the
architect Mr. Rusy had been intrusted with the crema-
torium sketches.

At the annual meeting on May 1 John Pecha was
elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr. Ma-
sek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A. Smejkal
and Chas. Kopecky, members of the Board of Trus-
tees, and J. Klaus, Th. David and Jos. Becvaf, mem-
bers of the Auditing Committee.

A donation of $200.00 was voted to the employee
Sykora, whose home had burned down, as well as
a lot for the members of his family who had burned
to death.

The committee which had been elected to settle
the complaints of the workingmen submitted a de-
tailed plan of work-time and wages (nine hours a
day and five classes of wages from $2.00 to $3.50 a
day) which was approved. A letter signed by 47
employees was read in which confidence in the super-
intendent and the Board of Trustees was expressed
and the insulting actions of other employees were
condemned.

Ferd. Svoboda and V. Suster were appointed
delegates to the Freethinkers* School Association and
V. Dobias, M. Kara, V. Ruzicka, V. H. Cerny and J. J.
Benes were elected as members of a committee to re-
vise the statutes.

Donations of $25.00 each were voted to Sokol
Berwyn school and Jan Neruda school.

The crematory committee reported that they were
waiting for the sketches of one more architect. Jos.
W. Egermayer, who was going to California, prom-

85

ised to inspect crematories in that state and members
of the Board of Trustees, Smejkal and Kopecky, pre-
paring to go to Bohemia, promised to visit the crema-
torium in Reichenberg.

The salaries of the cemetery superintendent and
bookkeeper were increased to $115.00 a month. La-
ter they were given also a 2 weeks' vacation, provid-
ing that they did not go simultaneously.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep-
tember 8.

A special meeting was held on November 13 to
discuss the recommendations of the crematorium com-
mittee. It was resolved to unite the crematory with
the Chapel building which would then satisfy all de-
mands present and future. As to the price it was
resolved that it must not exceed $35,000.00 and this
amount had to include remodelling and adorning of
the terrace before the chapel. Cremation furnaces
were excluded from the approved amount. A com-
mittee of three (Ringl, Smejkal and Dobias) was
elected to investigate the gas question. For plans
of architects a public competition was adopted with
three prizes: 1, adjudication of the building work;
2, a prize of $100.00, and 3, a prize of $75.00. Only
Bohemian architects were admitted to the competi-
tion, and any builder who would submit plans for a
higher price than $35,000.00 would not be entitled
to any prize.

On December 4 the cemetery superintendent re-
ported two sections in the new ''60 acres" finished.

The chairman of the crematorium committee,
Mencl, reported that it would be necessary to se-
cure four lots for the extension of the building.

The follov/ing donations were voted: $2,500.00
to the Bohemian Freethought Schools, $500.00 to the
Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum, $50.00 to the
Red Cross in Europe, $25.00 to the Matice Vyssiho
Vzdelani and $25.00 to the Nat. Slovak School.

1913

On January 8 it was resolved that the Associa-
tion become a member of the Bohemian American

Press Bureau with dues of $25.00 a year. A dona-
tion of $50.00 was voted to the Singing school of the
Bohemian Workingmen's Singing Society and it was
resolved to include this school in the New Years*
donations in the future.

Fr. Masek Sr. was appointed delegate to the
Freethinker School Association.

A resolution of sympathy was voted to the fam-
ily of the deceased delegate, Math. Kara. The reso-
lution was drafted by Jos. W. Egermayer, Ferd. Svo-
boda and Jos. Hladovec.

On February 5 two donations were voted: $25.00
to the Bohemian Benevolent Society and $10.00 to the
Komensky Educational Club at Lincoln, Nebr., for
the erection of a Comenius Monument.

It was resolved that in case of failure by the
undertaker to order the grave 16 hours before the
funeral the body be put into the vault and interred
next day, with the exception of those who had died
of a contagious disease.

The crematorium committee recommended the
plan of the architect Randak for the first prize, the
plan of the architect Rusy for the second and that of
the architect Charvat for the third prize. But all
plans were rejected on account of a price higher than
$35,000.00.

On March 5, three shares of the Boh. Free-
thought School at Hanson Park were purchased. The
request to decorate the graves of all amateur-actors
on the jubilee day of March 23 was granted.

A special meeting was held on March 22. Vari-
ous sections of the statutes were amended and de-
clared valid from May 1, 1913, on. One of the amend-
ments was the increase of the membership fee to
$200.00.

On April 2, the motion of Chas. Kopecky that
the officers with exception of one member of the
Board of Trustees be elected only to February, 1914,
was adopted.

The crematorium committee reported that the
contract between the committee and the architect
Randak was signed and that he would submit the
r.ew plan before April 15.

At the annual meeting on May 7 John Pecha was
elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr. Ma^
sek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Chas. Kope-
cky (for two years) and J. M. Kralovec (for one
year), members of the Board of Trustees; and Th.
David, John Klaus and V. H. Cerny, members of the
Auditing Committee.

Kristof Kolumbus Lodge No. 9 C. S. J. was ad-
mitted a member with Ant. Zrust and Vac. Plzak as
delegates. The lodge paid only $100.00 admission
fee, because the meeting of the lodge in which it was
resolved to become a member of the Bohemian Na-
tional Cemetery Association was held in April be-
fore the meeting which adopted the increase of the
membership fee to $200.00.

Upon motion of E. Frydl, Dr. A. Mueller, as a
sanitary expert, was appointed member of the build-
ing committee.

On June 6 the chairman of the building com-
mittee reported that the architect, Mr. Randak, did
not conform to the contract and submitted plans for
a crematorium which would cost at least $50,418.00.
After a violent debate it was resolved to ignore Mr.
Randak's plans and to hold a special meeting where it
would be discussed what further steps should be
taken.

At the special meeting of June 11 Mr. Randak's
letter was read first. In this letter he explained that
the higher price was caused by some absolutely nec-
essary additional work, especially a complete rebuild-
ing of the present tower in order to obtain space for
chimes, and a special construction of ventilation for
the cremation furnaces. Further the prices of build-
ing material and cartage went higher after May 1.
Finally the original conditions reckoned with a too
small a space. The given area would be sufficient
only for 100 persons, and therefore if the new chapel
was to offer room for 350 persons, it was necessary
to change the plans which would represent now ^an
increase of 2,000 square feet. A cheaper material
would be a hard blow to the imposing aspect of the
crematory, but the use of marble and all other more
expensive adornment had necessarily to increase the

88

estimate. After a lengthy debate the motion was
carried, by 28 votes against 14, to reconsider the de-
cision by which the price of the crematory had been
fixed at $35,000.00, whereupon it was resolved, by
41 votes against 14, "to build the crematory and com-
bine it with the present chapel, because this is an
ideal location and in view of our pioneer-freethink-
ers and founders of the cemetery." To the question
of J. Jurka and E. Frydl as to whether it was possible
to take Mr. Randak's plan into consideration, an
affirmative answer was given, and the whole matter
referred to the building committee.

Before adjournment the president announced the
death of the prominent freethinker, Leo J. Palda.
His memory was honored by the delegates rising from
their chairs and a committee (Jos. W. Egermayer,
Chas. Kopecky and Alb. Machacek) was elected to
draft a resolution of sympathy.

On July 2, the building committee recommended
making an appropriation of $65,000 for the crema-
torium which was approved by 33 votes against 11.
By this decision the erection of the first Bohemian
crematorium in the world was secured.

It was resolved to pay out the following prizes
to the architects who had entered the competition:
$100.00 to Mr. Busy nd $75.00 to Mr. Charvat.

A resolution of sympathy was voted to the fam-
ily of the deceased delegate Vac. Straka.

The annual tour of inspection was set for the
last Sunday in August.

On August 6, Jos. Novak was appointed dele-
gate to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani Convention on
September 20 and 21.

Chas. Kopecky, member of the Board of Trus-
tees, submitted the suggestion of erecting a John Hus
Monument in the new 60 acres in order to celebrate
the 500th anniversary of his martyrdom on July 6,
1915. It was resolved that the delegates discuss this
matter in their societies.

On October 1 the Bohemian Sharpshooters sent
a letter of protest against a Hus Monument and Jifi
Washington Lodge C. S. P. S. a letter of approval of
the monument idea.

89

The contract with the architect Randak was sub-
mitted. He bound himself to build the crematorium
for $65,000.00, completing it before November 1,.
1914.

On November 5 further protests against the Hus
monument were read, from Vernost Lodge C. S. P. S.,
Cesky Lev Court C. A. L. a L. and Otakar Lodge K.
of P.

On December 3 the architect Randak reported
the basement of the crematorium finished. The cele-
bration of laying of the foundation-stone was held on
December 7.

The following donations were voted : $2,500.00 ta
the Bohemian Freethought Schools, $500.00 to the Old
Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum, $25.00 to the
Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani and $25.00 to the Singings
school of the Bohemian Work. Singing Society.

Rip Lodge and Svobodomyslnost Lodge sent pro-
tests against the Hus monument.

Delegate F. J. Benes submitted a protest against
religious ceremonies in the cemetery. The majority
of the delegates, however, declared that the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery was not so partisan as to
prohibit decent ceremonies.

1914

On January 7, the nominations for offices were
made.

A donation of $10.00 was voted to the Nat. Slo-
vak School at Will St. where 70 children were taught
the Slovak language. Both freethinkers and Catho-
lic parents sent their children to this school.

At the annual meeting on February 4 John Pecha
was elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-President; Fr.
Masek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. M. Kra-
lovec (for one year) and Jos. A. Smejkal (for twa
years), members of the Board of Trustees, and John
Klaus, Th. David and Jos. Ringl, members of the
Auditing Committee. Longin Tuma was reappointed
cemetery superintendent; Fr. Husak, bookkeeper, and
Boh. Velisek, assistant bookkeeper.

90

John Pecha was appointed delegate to the Bohe-
mian American Press Association. The annual dues,
$25.00, were voted. Fr. Masek Sr. was appointed
delegate to the John Hus Celebration committee. The
latter was also appointed delegate to the Straz Osvo-
jenych with $10.00 annual dues.

On March 4 the Board of Trustees reported that
the Jarvis Engineering Co. would deliver the crema-
tion furnaces for $6,500.00.

Upon motion of delegate Suchan a congratula-
tory letter was voted upon the 60th Anniversary of
the C. S. P. S. Upon motion of Fr. Masek Sr. the
memory of all members of C. S. P. S. who had con-
tributed to the welfare of the Bohemian National
Cemetery was honored by members rising from their
chairs and upon motion of Chas. Kopecky it was re-
solved that Bro. Rud. Janda who would take part at
the celebration in St. Louis, Mo., should deliver a
bouquet of flowers in the name of the Association
and congratulate the C. S. P. Society upon such a
significant jubilee.

On April 1 J. M. Kralovec, as member of the
Board of Trustees, called the attention of the meet-
ing to the fact that another member of the same
board, J. A. Smejkal, had just reached 30 years of
his indefatigable work for the welfare of the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery. Upon motion of delegate
Egermayer sincere thanks were expressed to this
zealous delegate and a bouquet of 30 roses was sent
to his home.

On May 6 the Bohemian Old Peoples' Home and
Orphan Asylum Association submitted a request that
a special space be donated for burials of the deceased
inmates of this institution. The demand was not
granted. It was, however, resolved that a free grave
be given whenever the above Association should ask
far it.

The Board of Trustees reported that Mr. Mekota
of Cedar Rapids, la., would deliver the Bohemian
speech at the Memorial Day celebration.

On July 1 the attorneys, Jones, Kerner and Pos-
vic, offered to settle the claim of the architects. Char-
vat and Zidek, for the crematorium plans for $500.00.

91

The offer was rejected, because the Association was
not under any legal obligation to pay for plans which
were not accepted.

On August 5 a resolution of sympathy, drafted
by a committee, consisting of Boh. Wacek, Fr. Petru
and Jos. Novak, on account of the death of the dele*
gate, Fr. J. Benes, was adopted.

On September 2 the same committee was in-
structed to draft a resolution of sympathy for the
family of the deceased delegate J. Komorous.

The request of the surface lines company to sign
a petition for the extension of Crawford Avenue
tracks north of the cemetery was granted, because it
would be a convenience to the visitors coming to the
Bohemian National Cemetery.

On November 4 the building committee reported
that the crematorium would be finished soon and that
the first body would be cremated the following Thurs-
day at 2 P. M. The first body to be cremated in the
crematorium was that of the Bohemian-American
journalist and poet, Joseph Bezdeka.

The Board of Trustees reported that a new see*
tion would be opened in the 60 acre tract.

Attorneys Kroupa and Smejkal were intrusted
with the defense of the Association which was sued
by the architects Charvat and Zidek for $1,000.00
as indemnity for the non-accepted crematory plans.

At the December meeting the Board of Trustees
reported that already five bodies were cremated in
the crematorium. The fee was fixed at $25.00 if the
small hall was used and $5.00 more if the large hall
was used.

A donation of $500.00 to the John Hus Memo-
rial Home was voted upon recommendation of J.
Rada, J. W. Egermayer and V. Dobias.

New Year's donations were voted as follows:
$2,500.00 to the Freethought Schools; $50.00 to the
Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani; $25.00 to the Bohemian
American Press Association and $25.00 to the Boh.
Work. Singing Society.

92

1915

After nominations the January meeting voted a
donation of $10.00 to the Nat. Slovak School.

J. M. Kralovec, member of the Board of Trustees,
reported that the cost of the crematorium would be
about $83,000.00, the columbarium not included.

Fr. Masek Sr. v^as appointed delegate to the
Hus Memorial Home Association.

At the annual meeting on February 3, Jos. Hla-
dovec v^as elected President; Fr. Mencl, Vice-Presi-
dent; St. J. Hallk, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer;
John Pecha (for tv^o years) and E. Frydl (for one
year), members of the Board of Trustees, and Th.
David, J. Klaus and Alb. Machacek, members of the
Auditing Committee.

Upon request of the Board of Trustees a commit-
tee of five (B. Wacek, Jos. Bfezina, Fr. Masek, V. H.
Cerny and J. Rothbauer) was elected to audit all con-
tracts and bills, paid in connection with the crema-
torium and to report to the Association, as the crema-
torium was to be finished in a few weeks and dedi-
cated to its purpose.

A new section in the 60-acre tract was reported
opened.

Upon remai^ks of John Pecha and V. Dobias, con-
cerning the splendid services of Messrs. Mencl and
Kralovec in the building of the crematorium, the spe-
cial thanks of the Association were voted to these
two delegates.

At the March meeting J. A. Smejkal was appoint-
ed delegate to the Sokol Slavsky jubilee celebration.

On April 7 upon motion of Chas. Kopecky it was
resolved that anybody who wanted to erect a monu-
ment in the cemetery had to submit a sketch of it to
the Board of Trustees who would decide whether or
not it should be erected.

On May 5 the invitation of the Old Peoples'
Home and Orphan Asylum Association to the cele-
bration of the laying of the foundation-stone for a
new building of the Orphan Asylum was accepted and
a donation of $100.00 approved. Jos. Hladovec was
appointed delegate for the celebration.

93

Messrs. Shanahan and Dr. A. Mueller were in-
vited as speakers for the Memorial Day celebration.

On June 2 a committee of three (J. W. Eger-
mayer, Fr. Mencl and R. Kapsa) was elected to per-
sonally call upon those owners of lots who would not
sell or exchange their lots in front of the crema-
torium.

On July 7 the contract for the erection of the
columbarium with porcelain walls was given to the
Pilsen Foundry for $4,500.00.

On August 4 in view of several demands for
loans it was resolved that the Association would grant
no loans upon buildings belonging to Associations,
because the charter did not allow it.

The Board of Trustees reported that on account
of the Eastland disaster almost the entire 16th sec-
tion was sold. A letter of thanks was voted to the
Chief Bailiff, Mr. Ant. Cermak, and to the Bohemian
Relief Committee for automobiles furnished to the
survivors and for the transportation of flowers to
the cemetery.

The motion of Jos. Jurka to erect a monument
to the victims of the Eastland disaster, the majority
of whom were interred in the Bohemian National
Cemetery, was referred to the Board of Trustees.
(At that disaster, which occured on July 24, 850 per-
sons died, and a great part of the victims were Bohe-
mians.)

On September 1 the salaries of both bookkeep-
ers and of the superintendent were raised (the super-
intendent was to receive $10.00 more a month and
the bookkeepers each $5.00 more).

On recommendation of the Board of Trustees it
was decided to tear down the stair-case, which had
not been correctly built, and to replace it with a
stone stair-case.

The John Hus Memorial Home Association sent
an invitation to the foundation-stone celebration on
October 17, 1915. Fr. Mencl was appointed to sub-
stitute at this celebration for the delegate Hladovec
who was ill, and a donation of $100.00 was voted,
as well as the drafting of a memorial document to
be sealed into the foundation-stone.

94

On December 1, the following New Year's dona-
tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Freethought
Schools and $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani.

1916

On January 5 a donation of $500.00 was voted
to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum Asso-
ciation, but the secretary was instructed to inform the
Old Peoples' Home Association that the Bohemian
National Cemetery Association was opposed to Mr.
Charvat being a member of the Board of Trustees
of the Old Peoples' Home Association.

The Board of Trustees reported that the colum-
barium would be finished by the end of February
and that the stair-case in front of the crematorium
was finished and paid for. — An amount of $200.00
was voted for repairs to the Veterans' Monument.

At the annual meeting on February 2 John Pecha
was elected President; F. Mencl, Vice-President; B. J.
Wacek, Secretary; J. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A. Smej-
kal (for two years) and E. Frydl (for one year) and
Th. David (for the rest of the one year term), mem-
bers of the Board of Trustees; John Klaus, Albert
Machacek and John Rothbauer, members of the Au-
diting Committee.

Vac. Illich and Ferd. Svoboda were appointed
delegates to the Freethought Schools Association and
John Pecha and V. J. Matejka to the Old Peoples'
Home and Orphan Asylum Association (upon request
of the same).

A donation of $50.00 was voted to the build-
ing fund of the Morton Par'k Freethought School.

On March 1 the request of the Bohemian Na-
tional Alliance that its Memorial Day celebration in
honor of Bohemian soldiers who died in Europe be
united with the Cemetery Memorial Day celebration
was granted.

Following the report of Mr. Masek that the Na-
tional Slovak School is conducted in the spirit of the
Free Thought, a donation of $10.00 was voted to this
school.

95

The delegates honored the memory of the de-
ceased delegate, M. Kolaf, by rising from their chairs.

On April 5 J. A. Smejkal submitted the sugges-
tion that the walls of the crematorium be adorned
with paintings and presented a sketch of such a deco-
ration. The Board of Trustees was instructed to ob-
tain some more sketches and to ascertain the expense.

A letter of sympathy was voted for the family
of Jos. Plotz, who had been an employee of the ceme-
tery for the past 25 years.

A special meeting was held on April 16 with
the purpose of discussing the columbarium decoration.
It was resolved that the columbarium and the adjoin-
ing smaller rooms only be painted and that in the
smaller ceremony hall and in the rest of the lower
rooms the walls be enameled and the ceilings white-
washed.

On May 3 V. Dobias was appointed delegate to
the Hus Memorial Home Association.

The Board of Trustees reported that the total
cost of the redeeming of lots in front of the crema-
torium was $5,721.80.

The superintendent, Longin Tuma, reported the
death of Vincent Jefabek, one of the oldest employ-
ees of the cemetery. A letter of sympathy was voted,
and the Board of Trustees instructed to investigate
whether the Plotz and Jefabek families needed any
assistance.

On June 7 delegate, Dr. Mueller, sent a letter
recommending the erection of a bust of the co-found-
er of the cemetery, F. B. Zdrubek. The matter was
tabled until Dr. Mueller should be present at a meet-
ing.

The John Hus Memorial Home Association sent
an invitation to the celebration of the opening of its
building on July 7.

The Board of Trustees reported that it would be
necessary to change the charter in consequence of
the erection of the crematorium.

On September 6 the Board of Trustees reported
that on September 17, the urn with the ashes of F. B.
Zdrubek and his wife would be transferred to an
honorary place near KlaceFs Monument.

96

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I

if?

On December 6 the New Year's donations were
voted as follows: $3,000.00 to the Freethought
schools; $500.00 to the Hus Memorial Home; and
$50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani.

1917

On January 3 the Board of Trustees reported
that the negotiations which had been conducted with
the purpose of the dropping of Mr. Charvat's law
suit had been successful. After that a donation of
$1,000.00 was voted to the Old Peoples' Home and
Orphan Asylum Association, which amount was to be
paid out as soon as Mr. Charvat's affairs would be
settled.

A donation of $500.00 was voted to the Bohe-
mian National Alliance.

At the annual meeting of February 7 John Pecha
was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vive-President;
B. J. Wacek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Th.
David (for two years) and F. Boucek (for one year),
members of the Board of Trustees, and John Klaus,
Alb. Machacek and Jos. Bfezina, members of the
Auditing Committee.

The Board of Trustees submitted two plans for
the new office building, one for a two story building
($8,500) and the other for a one story building
($4,500). The latter was approved.

On March 6 the erection of green-houses to cost
$6,000.00 was approved.

The motion of J. A. Smejkal to order an organ
for the crematorium was approved, but the action
on it was postponed.

On April 4 upon recommendation of the Board
of Trustees the wages of cemetery employees were
increased and a new plan for the erection of a floral
department office was approved.

On May 2 the new wage scale was approved
(there were five classes of labor at from 24 to 38
cents an hour and a 9-hour working day) .

It was resolved to buy war bonds for $10,000.00.

At the Memorial Day celebration Judge Harry
Olson and Prof. Boh. Simek from the University of

97

Iowa were speakers and Fr. Stejskal, a Civil War
veteran, was the chief marshall.

On June 6 it was reported that about 50 bids
were submitted for the office building. A commit-
tee of five, Jos. Kfiz, Fr. Masek, St. Simeceik, Ant.
Zrust and Fr. J. Petru, was elected to examine the
bids and to report on them.

The motion of Jos. Kfiz that the Association be-
come a life member of the Red Cross with a fee of
$25.00 was approved.

On June 13, at a special meeting, it was decided
to postpone the erection of the new office building,
because the lowest bid was for $63,500.00, and with
inner equipment $70,000.00, and to wait till prices
would decline.

The Board of Trustees also reported that the
contract with Mr. Scheiner was signed. His property
adjoining the cemetery was purchased for $50,000.00,
with the provision that he would be permitted to rent
it for two years and would pay a rent of $1,000.00
for the second year.

On July 11 the assistant bookkeeper, B. Velisek,
resigned.

At the annual tour of inspection, on July 29, the
property purchased from Mr. Scheiner was also in-
spected. After the inspection a meeting was held at
the small ceremony hall where the president, John
Pecha, reminded the delegates present that forty
years had elapsed since the founding of the cemetery
and that 76 delegates had entered the Realm of the
Unknown. Two delegates, Fr. Mencl and V. Topinka,
Avho for forty years were zealously active as dele-
gates, were presented with beautiful watch-fobs.

On August 1 the questions of the organ and the
decoration of the large ceremony hall in the crema-
torium were revived bj^ A. J. Smejkal and Chas. Ko-
pecky. The Board of Trustees was instructed to take
both matters under consideration.

Jos. Kfiz was elected a member of the Audit-
ing Committee to fill the vacancy, caused by the
resignation of J. Bfezina.

On September 5 J. Gregor was appointed assis-
tant bookkeeper.

98

On October 3 it was reported that several artists
were willing to send estimates for the decoration of
the large hall of the crematorium. It was resolved
to ask the Bohemian Arts Club for advisory services.

On December 5 the following New Year's dona-
tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Freethought
Schools; $500.00 to the Old Peoples Home and
Orphan Asylum Association; $500.00 to the John
Hus Memorial Home and $50.00 to the Matice Vyssi-
ho Vzdelani.

1918

On January 2 the memory of the former dele-
gate, Rud. Kapsa, and of the two delegates, Fr. Mencl
and Jos. Hladovec, who had died while in office last
year, was honored and the president and secretary
were instructed to send resolutions of sympathy to
the families of Fr. Mencl and Jos. Hladovec.

Upon complaint of the Board of Trustees that
the ceremony halls in the crematorium were rarely
used (during December the large hall was used only
three times, the small not at all), for which the under-
takers were often to blame, because they hurried
with the funeral and insinuated to the survivors that
the hall was too expensive, it was resolved to inform
the public what the conditions for the use of the
large hall were and that the small hall could be used
free of charge.

At the annual meeting of February 6 John Pecha
was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vice-President;
B. J. Wacek, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A.
Smejkal (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one
year), members of the Board of Trustees, and John
Klaus, Jos. Kfiz and Alb. Machacek, members of the
Auditing Committee.

The salary of the superintendent was increased
to $150.00 a month and that of the assistant book-
keeper to $100.00, from March 1, 1918. Mr. John
Kozak was appointed bookkeeper during the sickness
of Mr. Husak.

The Board of Trustees reported that a pamphlet
would be issued which would foster the idea of crema-
tion and the use of the ceremony halls for funerals.

99

On March 6 a donation of $100.00 was voted to
the Vcelky Society for its fund for purchases of neces-
sities for Czechoslovak volunteers.

On May 1 the Board of Trustees reported that
the Scheiner restaurant was rented to Mr. Bezvoda
for $100.00 a month, that Liberty bonds were bought
for $15,000.00 and that the wages of employees were
increased 2 cents an hour.

J. Kozak was appointed bookkeeper with a sal-
ary of $100.00 a month and free quarters.

At the Memorial Day celebrations. Governor
Frank O. Lowden and attorney J. J. Vlach from Mil-
waukee, Wis., were speakers.

On June 5 the Bohemian Arts Club submitted a
written opinion regarding the decoration of the Crem-
atorium hall.

A donation of $3,000.00 was voted to the Amer-
ican Red Cross. Also a purchase of War Savings
Stamps for $1,000.00 was approved.

The lowest bid for an organ for the crematorium
hall, submitted by Coburn Organ Co. ($3,000.00 and
$550.00 for the automatic player), was approved.

On July 3 a donation of $300.00 was voted for
the Czechoslovak Relief Committee.

The offer .of J. A. Malin for the paintings in the
crematorium ($3,000.00, while Mr. Petrtyl's estimate
was for $9,500.00) was approved.

The fee for cremation was increased to $30.00.

The annual tour of inspection was held on July
28. The delegates approved the resolution submit-
ted by J. A. Smejkal and recommending that the
memory of 82 former delegates buried in the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery be honored by placing an
American flag on their graves for three days.

On August 7 the Board of Trustees submitted a
proposition that the rest of the rooms and stair-cases
in the crematorium be decorated for an additional
sum of $690.00. The proposition was approved.

On September 4 the request of the Grand Com-
mittee of J. C. D. for membership in the Association
was rejected by 23 votes against 21. The motion of
M. Nosek that the membership fee be increased to
$500.00 was carried by 51 votes against 9 with the

100

provision that this increase would not be valid for
the Grand Committee J. C. D. should it renew its re-
quest.

A resolution submitted by the Board of Trustees
proposed that a loan of not more than $5,000.00 be
granted to the Bohemian English School which was
destroyed by fire on March 29, 1918 as a token of
gratitude to the C. S. P. S. lodges which in the first
days of the Bohemian National Cemetery gave to the
Cemetery Association the greatest financial help. The
president and the Board of Trustees were authorized
to make this loan if the building should be rebuilt.

The motion of St. Simecek to vote a worthy dona-
tion to the Bohemian National Alliance and the mo-
tion of J. Ringl that the donation be $25,000.00 were
postponed to the next meeting.

On October 2 a donation of $5,000.00 to the Bo-
hemian National Alliance was voted unanimously.

The Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum As-
sociation sent a written declaration that it would com-
ply with the request of the Cemetery Association
not to rent its gardens for any picnics which disturb-
ed the funeral ceremonies by the blare of bands.

The Board of Trustees reported that the model
order prevailing in the cemetery during the influenza
epidemic was lauded by the City Board of Health.
The increase of wages of employees, 25 cents a day
more, on account of the strenuous work during the
epidemic, and a 10 per cent increase in the price of
lots were approved.

On December 4 the Board of Trustees recom-
mended that work begin on the history of the second
quarter of a century of the Cemetery Association and
that the editor, Vac. J. Petrzelka, be intrusted with
this work.

The New Year's donations were voted as fol-
lows: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools
Association; $500.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and
Orphan Asylum ; $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzd^-
lanf.

101

1919

On January 8 the motion was carried that the
salary of the president be increased to $150.00 and
that of the treasurer to $300.00.

On Sunday, January 26, the dedication of the
crematorium with the new decorations was held.
Sixty delegates were present. Jos. A. Smejkal deline-
ated a short history of the first Bohemian crema-
torium in the world; the president, John Pecha, de-
scribed the obstacles which were to be overcome;
the orator of the Svobodna Obec, V. J. Petrzelka,
delivered a speech about the cremation of the dead,
from the remotest days to the present time; and the
organ virtuoso, Mr. Stephen Erst, played several mus-
ical compositions on the new organ.

At the annual meeting of February 5 John Pecha
was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vice-President;
V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Th
David (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one year),
members of the Board of Trustees, and John Klaus,
Jos. Kfiz and Jos. Lang, members of the Auditing
Committee.

A resolution refuting an unjust and offensive
criticism published in the "Kvety Americke" was ap-
proved.

Superintendent, Longin Tuma, and bookkeepers,
Kozak and Gregor, were reappointed for the next
year, and the salaries of both bookkeepers were raised
($10.00 more a month).

On May 5 the Board of Trustees reported that
Liberty Bonds (of the fifth loan) for $25,000.00 had
been purchased.

The memory of the deceased delegate, Fr. Ciha,
was honored by rising to attention and the officers
were instructed to attend the funeral.

At the Memorial Day celebration Judge S. H.
Trude and editor J. J. Jelmek were speakers.

On account of a big cash balance it was resolved
to buy Liberty Bonds for $22,500.00 and, if possible,
some other bonds.

The annual tour of inspection was held on July
27. Among other things it was resolved to hire an

102

expert who would devise a new plan for the entire
cemetery, showing how everything should be arranged
in the future, because the barn, green-houses, etc.,
were soon to be rebuilt.

On August 6 J. A. Smejkal reported that the
Board of Trustees visited several Chicago cemeteries
and studied the work systems and the arrangement
of the cemeteries. It was especially noted that for
the roads tar and sand were used instead of oil, and
it was therefore resolved to try this road treatment.
As to the cemetery plan it was reported that the plan
was being worked upon by the architect, Mr. Rus^,
together with the Board of Trustees.

On September 3 it was resolved to lend the large
ceremony hall to the Svobodna Obec for the memorial
celebration in honor of Fr. B. Zdrubek, on Sunday,
September 14, and to place a wreath at his urn.

Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees
based on the conditions in other Chicago cemeteries
it was resolved to raise the wages of workingmen
3 to 4 cents an hour and to increase the salaries of
the superintendent and both bookkeepers $10.00 a
month each.

On October 1 the Board of Trustees submitted
a resolution that the memorial celebration, held by
the Svobodna Obec in honor of Fr. B. Zdrubek, be
attended by the Cemetery Association every year on
account of the fact that Zdrubek gave the impulse
to the founding of the cemetery and remained its true
adviser and defender all his life. The resolution was
adopted unanimously.

It was resolved to allow a three year contract to
Mr, Bezvoda, restaurant lessee, on cemetery property.

On December 3 the following New Year's dona-
tions were voted : $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free-
thought Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home
and Orphan Asylum; $500.00 to the John Hus Mem-
orial Home; $500,00 to the Bohemian English School
on 18th St,; $100.00 to the F. B, Zdrubek School;
$50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani.

A resolution of sympathy was voted on account
of the death of Vac. Topinka, a delegate of 40 years

103

standing, former Vice-President, former Treasurer
and member of the Board of Trustees.

1920

On January 7, before nominations were made,
it was resolved that the Vice-President receive $25.00
a year.

A donation of $25.00 was voted to the Bohemian
American Cremation Society.

Mr. J. Gregor, bookkeeper in the floral depart-
ment, having resigned, Mr. Otto Scheiner was ap-
pointed in his stead. The Board of Trustees was in-
structed to submit plans for the rebuilding of the
office of the floral department and of the floral shop,
because the floral business was increasing rapidly.

At the annual meeting on February 4, John Pe-
cha was elected President; J. Ringl, Vice-President;
V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A.
Smejkal (for two years) and Jos. Siman (for one
year) , members of the Board of Trustees, and J. Klaus,
J. Kfiz and V. Waska, members of the Auditing Com-
mittee.

A contract was signed with the Cobum Organ
Co., which undertooik to tune the organ, keep it in
order and make necessary repairs for $100.00 a year.

The Board of Trustees recommended that the
wages of workingmen be increased about 5 cents an
hour on the average, and that the salaries of office
employees be as follows: the superintendent, $2,000;
the bookkeeper in the main office, $1^560, and the
bookkeeper in the loral department, $1,560 a year.
The recommendation was approved.

The plans for the new floral department office
submitted by the architect, Busy, were approved.

On April 7 the purchase of Franklin County
(111.) bonds or $10,000.00 v/as reported.

At a special meeting of April 28 the program
for the Memorial Day celebration was decided upon.
Judge R. S. Crowe and editor J. V. Petrzelka were
invited as speakers. Captain F. R. Lewis reported
that the U. S. Government would donate head-stones
for the graves of all soldiers buried in Chicago ceme-

104

teries, and the secretary was therefore instructed to
urge the relatives of soldiers to send their applica-
tions for head-stones to Capt. Lewis.

On May 5 Messrs. J. Placek and Ant. T. Dole-
zal appeared before the meeting and reported that
the Bohemian American Sokol Federation was in-
vited to the Sokol Mass Meet in Prague and was re-
quested to bring a loan of $50,000 in the form of
Hoover's Food Certificates which could be exchanged
for food in the American food warehouses in Europe.
It was resolved to lend such an amount to this loan
which would be covered by a bond guarantee of the
Sokol Federation.

A donation of $17.50 or 1,000 crowns was voted
to the Slovak Branch of the Socialist party for a one
million crown fund to fight the ultra-montane move-
ment.

Two donations of $50.00 each were voted to the
Chicago Relief Committee for the tornado sufferers
and to the Opocensky family, one of the tornado
victims.

On June 2 the Board of Trustees reported that
the loan to the American Sokol Federation of $10,000
was guaranteed by $11,000 in Liberty bonds and a
$10,000 note for six months at 41/2 per cent interest.

Sincere sympathy was extended by president
Pecha to the delegate, John Klaus, on account of the
death of his wife, Clara, a rare woman, who deserved
extraordinary credit for her activities in our societies
and in the national life in general.

At a special meeting, held on June 9, it was de-
cided after a lengthy debate, to postpone the erection
of a new administration building on account of the
high prices of material (the lowest bid was for
$58,322.00.) On the other hand the necessity for a
new boiler building with a new 150 HP boiler and of
new green-houses was acknowledged and the erection
approved, for a total cost of $42,122.00.

On July 7 Dr. J. E. S. Vojan, editor of "Vek
Rozumu," and V. K. Soukup, secretary of the Na-
tional Executive Committee of the Bohemian Free-
thought Federation of America, appeared before the
meeting and submitted a request for voting a larger

105

support to the Freethought Federation. Upon the
recommendation of delegates Kroc, Nose'k, Masek,
Klaus and Frydl a donation of $1,000.00 was voted.

The Board of Trustees reported that new bonds
for $25,000.00 had been purchased.

On August 4 the purchase of Liberty bonds for
$10,000.00 was reprted.

On September 27 the annual tour of inspection
was held. The Board of Trustees was instructed to
adorn the place where the urn with the ashes of F. B.
Zdrubek was deposited with a memorial tablet. The
president remembered also two deceased delegates,
V. Topinka and V. Vopata, in his speech.

On October 6 a donation of $100.00 was voted
to the building fund of the Cicero Freethought School.

On December 1 the delegates honored the mem-
ory of the deceased delegate, Fr. Florian, in the cus-
tomary way.

The Board of Trustees recommended the erec-
tion of a special building where the workingmen
could change their clothes and spend the noon recess.
According to a plan drafted by the architect Rusy,
the cost was to be about $3,000.00. It was resolved
to get bids.

The following New Year's donations were voted:
$3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought schools;
$1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asy-
lum; $500.00 to the Bohemian English School on 18th
St.; $500.00 to the John Hus Memorial Home; $100.00
to the F. B. Zdrubek School and $50.00 to the Matice
Vyssiho Vzdelani.

1921

On January 5 a donation of $500.00 was voted,
upon recommendation of Fr. Boucek, to the Hoover
Eelief fund for suffering children in Europe.

The salaries of officers were increased as follows:
the president was to receive $250.00; the vice-presi-
dent, $50.00; the secretary, $200.00; the treasurer,
$500.00; each member of the Board of Trustees,
$250.00, and each member of the Auditing Commit-
tee, $16.00, for every audit. The salary of the super-

106

intendent was increased to $2,400.00 a year and free
quarters; the first bookkeeper, $150.00 a month, and
free quarters, the second bookkeeper, $150.00 a month
without living quarters.

The cash balance having been $17,097.72, the
Board of Trustees was instructed to buy bonds for
$12,000.00.

At the annual meeting of February 2 John Pecha
was elected President; Jos. Ringl, Vice-President;
V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos.
Siman (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one year),
members of the Board of Trustees, and Jos. Kflz,
John Klaus and Vac. Waska, members of the Audit-
ing Committee. Longin Tuma was reappointed super-
intendent and J. Kozak, first, and O. Scheiner, sec-
ond bookkeeper.

The request of the Gymnastic Sokol Society, Roz-
voj, and of the United Societies in Irving Park that
in the future the Memorial Day procession be formed
in front of the F. B. Zdrubek School in honor of the
memory of this great Free Thought leader and co-
founder of the Bohemian National Cemetery, was
granted.

The Board of Trustees was instructed to order
the Zdrubek memorial tablet in the form of a book
in order that it be in harmony with Vicker*s tablet.

On March 3 delegate Jos. Lang reminded the
meeting that the Svobodna Obec would celebrate its
50th anniversary on 27th to 29th of March. The
president requested the delegates to attend, and a
donation of $100.00 was voted.

On April 6 a donation of $500.00 was voted to
the building fund of the Bohemian Freethought School
in Cicero and $500.00 to the Bohemian Freethought
Schools Association in Chicago.

It was resolved to draft detailed rules for funer-
als in order to avoid crowding at the same hour and
needless errors, due to lack of knowledge on the part
of the undertakers as to where the graves were lo-
cated.

At the Memorial Day celebration Circuit Court
Judge A. T. Zeman and Otto T. Pergler, president
of the C. S. P. S. National Supreme Lodge, were
speakers.

107

On July 6 the Board of Trustees reported that
the Bohemian American Sokol Federation sent a check
for $10,000 to pay its loan, requesting the remission
of interest. The request was granted.

On August 3 a letter from the Svobodna Obec
was read. This letter asked for assistance at the
celebration of the unveiling of Zdrubek's memorial
tablet on September 11 and for free use of the large
ceremony hall. The request was granted in full.

The Board of Trustees reported that the lowest
bid for the planned erection of a garage and a build-
ing for workingmen was ?10,675.00. Authorization
was given to sign the contracts.

On August 7 fifty-seven delegates took part in
the annual tour of inspection. The graves of 92 dele-
gates buried in the National Cemetery were decorat-
ed with American flags. A flower column with Tyrs's
bust and Sokol slogans in floral letterings, the work
of superintendent, Longin Tuma, were gratefully ap-
preciated by the Sokols who held a mass meet in Chi-
cago in that month. After the inspection the 62nd
birthday of the delegate Jos. A. Smejkal, who at that
time had been active in the Association for 37 years,
was remembered by the president. A bouquet of 62
roses was given to this oldest member of the Board
of Trustees.

On September 7 the Slovak Evangelical Society
sent an inquiry as to whether it could become a mem-
ber of the Association. The secretary was instructed
to reply that only societies fully adhering to Free
Thought could be members of the Bohemial National
Cemetery Association.

The memory of the deceased former delegate,
Jos. Hora, was honored in the customary way.

On November 2 the Board of Trustees reported
that an 8 hour work day had been introduced in the
cemetery, on account of shorter hours of daylight and
also to avoid the necessity of laying off several em-
ployees.

On December 7 the following New Year's dona-
tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free-
thought Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home
and Orphan Asylum; $500.00 to the John Hus Mem-

108

orial Home; $500.00 to the Bohemian Freethought
Federation of America; $100.00 to the Masaryk
School in Cicero and the same amount to the Zdrubelc
School in Irving Park; $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho
Vzdelani, and the loan of $5,000.00 to the C. S. P. S.
Building on 18th St. was remitted with interest for
the past year.

The Board of Trustees reported that the roll of
employees (besides clerks) was as follows: 15 men in
the gardening division, 1 man in the crematorium, 1
policeman, 4 grave-diggers, 6 chauffeurs, 6 teams-
ters, 3 firemen, 3 carpenters and 14 men for general
work in the cemetery.

1922

At the annual meeting of February 1 John Pecha
was elected President; St. Simecek, Vice-President;
V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; J. A.
Smejkal (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one
year), members of the Board of Trustees, and Jos.
Kfiz, John Klaus and Vac. Waska, members of the
Auditing Committee.

The Board of Trustees was instructed to buy
bonds for $10,000.00.

On March 1 the Board of Trustees reported that
the fund for permanent decoration of the graves was,
on February 15, 1922, $145,032.05. The total crema-
torium receipts 1914-1921 were $38,511.79 or
$5,501.70 a year as an average, but because the aver-
age crematorium expenses including interest of 4
per cent on $107,730.00, the cost of building the
crematorium, were $6,348.00 a year, the crematorium
was still being operated with a deficit. Therefore
it was a favorable event when the receipts in 1921
rose to $7,256.95.

The Association owned Liberty bonds for
$50,000.00 Upon motion of J. A. Smejkal it was re-
solved to sell them with a profit of 28c on every one
hundred dollars.

It was also resolved to buy a tower clock for the
crematorium with dial-plates on three sides and a
500-pound bell for $1,628.50.

109

On April 5 a donation of $50.00 was voted for
Prof. DeyFs Institute for the Blind in Prague and
sent to Mr. Fr. Zajicek, who collected contributions
for that institution.

The request of the State Committee of the Bohe-
mian Freethought Federation for free use of the
large ceremony hall of the crematorium for Sunday
educational lectures during the summer jwas granted.

Upon motion of E. Frydl bonds of the Czecho-
slovak Republic were purchased for $10,000.00,
whereby the Cemetery Association again had proved
that it was willing to take part in every patriotic
action for the welfare of the old country.

On April 13 the Bohemian Sharpshooters' Society
which had disbanded asked for permission to trans-
fer its membership to the Old Peoples' Home and
Orphan Asylum Association. The Board of Trustees
was instructed to investigate whether the statutes
allowed it.

John Pecha, president, reported that he was go-
ing to visit the old country and that the vice-presi-
dent, St. Simecek, was to substitute for him during
his absence. Mr. Pecha remarked that during 25
years of his service in holding the president's office
he was absent from only three meetings.

Upon motion of J. Ringl a donation of $500.00
was voted to be distributed by the president among
worthy institutions in Czechoslovakia.

At the Memorial Day celebration County Judge
F. S. Righeimer and editor Alb. J. Havranek were
speakers.

On June 7 the request of the Czechoslovak
Legionaries for the placing of free monuments on the
graves of two legionaries who had no survivors here
to take care of their graves was granted.

The Board of Trustees reported that no provi-
sion for allowing transfers of membership was found
in the statutes.

Cash on hand having been $39,258.16 on May
31, it was resolved to purchase bonds of the Czecho-
slovak Republic for $25,000.00.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep-
tember 17. Fifty-four delegates were present, among

110

them the president, John Pecha, who had just re-
turned from Czechoslovakia. He remembered 98 for-
mer deleg-ates who were already buried in the Na-
tional Cemetery and whose graves were decorated
with American flags.

On August 4 the president's report about his dis-
tribution of the $500.00 donation was accepted with
thanks.

Delegate Jos. Kroc called attention to an offense
perpetrated by a reverend who in his speech in the
crematorium declared that anybody who did not be-
lieve in God was a scoundrel. It was resolved not
to permit such remarks in the cemetery.

On December 6 the following New Year's dona-
tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free-
thought Schools; $500.00 to the John Hus Memorial
Home; $300.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Federa-
tion of America; $100.00 to the F. B. Zdrubek School
in Irving Park; $100.00 to the T. G. Masaryk School
in Cicero; $100.00 to the Bohemian Benevolent So-
ciety; $50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani, and
$50.00 to the Invalid Soldier fund of the Czecho-
slovak Legionnaires.

The bid of the Garden City Iron Works on an
airtight brass columbarium for $7,542.00 was ap-
proved.

1923

On January 3 a resolution of sympathy to the
family of the deceased cemetery superintendent,
Longin Tuma, was adopted.

At the annual meeting of February 7 John Pecha
was elected President; St. Simecek, Vice-President;
V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos.
Siman (for two years) and Fr. Boucek (for one year),
members of the Board of Trustees; John Klaus, Vac.
Waska and Jos. Kfiz, members of the Auditing Com-
mittee.

The recommendation of the Board of Trustees
that Charles Bastyf be appointed manager of the
outdoor work and Henry Paryzek, manager of the
indoor work of the cemetery, was approved. The

111

salary of the former was fixed at $2,400.00, that of
the latter at $2,200.00 and free quarters.

A committee of five. Vac. F. Cipra, Mart. Nosek,
Rud. Janda, J. J. Jelinek and Jos. Ringl, was elected
to revise the statutes to conform to the present de-
mands.

At a special meeting, held on March 28, all stat-
ute amendments were adopted as well as rules for
the new cemetery managers. One of the important
amendments was that only a Czechoslovak fraternal
benevolent society might become a member of the
Bohemian National Cemetery Association, after pay-
ment of the admission fee of $500.00.

On April 4 the wages of workingmen were in-
creased and the salaries of the booikkeepers, J. Ko-
zak and O. Scheiner, fixed at $1,800.00 a year each.

At the Memorial Day celebration which met with
remarkable success Assistant State's Attorney Ed. A.
Jonas and Jos. Placek, member of the State legisla-
ture and prominent Sokol leader, were speakers.

On account of higher prices of all material and
increase of wages in the iron industry an additional
amount of $2,000.00 was approved for the Garden
City Iron Works, which brought the total cost of the
columbarium to $9,542.00.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Au-
gust 12. Fifty-three delegates were present. The
speeches which were made on this occasion resound-
ed with glad satisfaction that the Bohemian National
Cemetery was now the most justly pride of the Bohe-
mian Americans, not only in Chicago, but in the
whole United States. President Pecha recalled the
great work of F. B. Zdrubek. J .A. Smejkal who had
become a member of the Cemetery Association as a
youth of 24 years and at this time had served in the
Board of Trustees for 38 years, talked of the days
when the finances of the cemetery were discourag-
ingly weak, while now the cemetery owned bonds al-
most for one million dollars. He mentioned the long
services of the president, Pecha, and of the treasurer,
Jurka, who had already passed his twenty-fifth year
as treasurer.

112

Two inspections of other cemeteries, one made on
July 27, the other on September 18, under the aus-
pices of the Cemetery Associations of the South Side
and North Side of Chicago, showed that the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery had little to learn. All par-
ticipants in these inspections — Smejkal, Boucek, Ko-
zak, Bastyf and Paryzek — found that no Chicago
cemetery could rival the Bohemian cemetery in floral
decorations and in model management.

At the meeting of November 7 John Pecha and
Jos. Wolf were appointed delegates to the Bohemian
Freethinker's Convention.

In December New Year's donations were voted
as follows: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought
Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home and
Orphan Asylum; $500.00 to the Music fund of the
Orphan Asylum; $2,000.00 to the Bohemian English
School on ItSh St.; $500.00 to the John Hus mem-
orial Home; $300.00 to the Bohemian Freethought
Federation; $100.00 each to the Zdrubek School, Ma-
saryk School and Bohemian Benevolent Society;
$50.00 to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani.

1924

On January 2 the president welcomed the new
delegates and exhorted them to work zealously for
the cemetery.

This meeting was the annual meeting. John Pe-
cha was elected President; St. Simecek, Vice-Presi-
dent; V. H. Filip, Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer;
J. A. Smejkal (for three years) and Fr. Boucek (for
two years), members of the Board of Trustees, Jos.
Kfiz, John Klaus and Vac. Waska, members of the
Auditing Committee.

Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees
the following executive employees were appointed:
J. Kozak, first bookkeeper; Otto Scheiner, second
bookkeeper; Jar. Gregor, assistant bookkeeper; K.
Ba§tyf, outdoor work manager, and Henry Paryzek,
manager of green-houses and floral department.

B. J. Wacek, delegate and public accountant, re-
ported that from January 1 to December 31, 1923,

113

the receipts in the floral department were $135,651.00
and disbursements, $83,740.50, net profit, $51,910.50.

Mr. Vales, representing the Spanish War Vet-
erans, reported that the U. S. government had donated
three markers for graves of three comrades buried in
the Bohemian cemetery and asked that they be erect-
ed free of charge. The request v^as granted.

On March 5 the delegates honored the memory
of two deceased delegates, Jos. Kovafik and J. A.
Smejkal, by rising from their chairs.

The president reminded the meeting that J. A.
Smej'kal had been a member of Trustees for 38 years
and appointed a committee of three, J. J. Jelinek, Fr.
Masek and Jos. W. Egermayer, to draft resolutions
of sympathy to the families of both lamented dele-
gates.

Jaroslav Bartos was elected a member of the
Board of Trustees for three years.

For the welfare of the cemetery the president
called the attention of the meeting to the fact that
all Chicago cemeteries had an official automobile for
use on business occasions which now became more
and more frequent. On his recommendation the pur-
chase of a seven passenger car was voted (the price
of the Buick car purchased was $2,599.60).

On April 2 Bohemian American Camp No. 30 of
the Spanish War Veterans informed the Association
of its decision to erect a monument to the heroes of
that war and asked for an appropriate place. The
request was granted and the matter referred to the
Board of Trustees.

A statute amendment giving to the vice-president
the right to vote in meetings of the Board of Trus-
tees was submitted and upon motion of delegate Illich,
seconded by delegates Fort and Kfiz, was adopted
unanimously.

On May 7 the Board of Trustees reported that
bonds had been purchased for $60,000.00 and at the
next meeting, when a larger cash balance was re-
ported, it was resolved to purchase more bonds for
$20,000.00.

At the Memorial Day celebration Judge Fred-
erick B. R. De Young and City Treasurer, J. A. Cer-
venka were speakers.

114

On June 4 a large panorama of all delegates,
which had been ordered from the Pleschner Photo-
graphic studio, was submitted. It was resolved to
hang it up in the cemetery office and to distribute
smaller copies among the delegates.

On July 2 the vice-president, Simecek, who pre-
sided at this meeting reported that president Pecha
was seriously ill and had been taken to an Evanston
hospital.

A letter of thanks was submitted from John Ciz-
kovsky who had been a delegate for many years and
to whom a floral remembrance had been sent on the
occasion of his 70th birthday.

The annual tour of inspection was postponed to
September as a token of honor to president Pecha
when — as it was hoped — he would leave the hospital
and could be present at the inspection. A commit-
tee of five, Zahrobsky, Klaus, Kfiz, Budilovsky and
Ign. Cerny, was appointed upon motion of the dele-
gate Zahrobsky to make an official visit to the hos-
pital.

The meeting of August 6 was called to order by
the president, John Pecha, who had recovered from
his grave illness.

The financial statement from January 1 to June
30, 1924, submitted by the bookkeeper, John Koza'k,
showed an increase of $111,743.19 in the assets of
the cemetery which now owned bonds for more than
$1,000,000.00.

Delegates Siman, Pecha and Boucek, who had
visited one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the
United States, in Milwaukee, Wis., reported that it
excelled in natural beauty. Its rolling area of 200
acres contained about 50,000 graves, but they were
not so well adorned as those in the Bohemian Na-
tional Cemetery, the annual receipts of the Milwau-
kee cemetery for flowers being only about $2,000.00
a year. One thing impressed the delegates : the ideal-
ly equipped offices and administration building.

On September 3 a donation of $50.00 was voted
to the building fund of the Oak Park Sokol Gymnas-
tic Association.

A committee of three, St. Simecek, Chas. J. Ko-

115

pecky and J. J. Jelinek, was appointed by the pres-
ident to peruse the history of the cemetery, written
by editor Petrzelka and to submit a report.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep-
tember 21. Fifty-nine delegates participated as well
as the representatives of Bohemian newspapers. The
veterans, Fara, Mach, Tittel and fiezny, were shown
where a location for the monument of Spanish War
Veterans had been reserved. The president remind-
ed the delegates of the urgent necessity to purchase
a new tract of land which would allow a better in-
come than the 4 per cent interest yielded by bonds.

On November 5 a donation of $50.00 was voted
to the building fund of the Berwyn Sokol Gymnastic
Society.

The Board of Trustees submitted plans of the
architect Rusy for a new administration building,
green-houses and managers' home. The estimate was
for $32,000.00 to $35,000.00. By 37 votes to 1 it was
resolved to erect those buildings according to the
submitted sketches.

On November 9, the day of the tenth anniver-
sary of the opening of the crematorium, a celebration
was held with the purpose of furthering the idea of
cremation. Editors, Psenka, Petrzelka and Jelinek
were speakers.

On December 3 the following New Year's dona-
tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free-
thought Schools; $1,000.00 to the Old Peoples' Home
and Orphan Asylum and $500.00 to the Music fund
of the Orphan Asylum inmates; $500.00 to the John
Hus Memorial Home; $500.00 to the Bohemian Free-
thought Federation; $100.00 each to F. B. Zdrubek
School, Thomas G. Masaryk School and Bohemian
Benevolent Society; $1,000.00. to the Agitation com-
mittee of the C. S. P. S. Grand Lodge of the State of
Illinois for its camp at Algonquin, 111., and $50.00 to
the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani.

A special meeting, held on December 21, was
devoted to the question of the erection of a building
for managers. By 42 votes against 2 it was resolved
to start the erection and the Board of Trustees was

116

instructed to do so at the least expenses. (The low-
est bid was for $30,445.00.)

It was resolved to buy 90 turkeys and distri-
bute them among employes as Christmas gifts. — Mr.
Scheiner, floral department bookkeeper, resigned and
Fr. Boucek, Jr., was appointed in his stead.

1925

At the annual meeting of January 7 the free
cremation of the deceased Bohemian newspaperman
Stradal was approved. New delegates were wel-
comed by the president. A donation of $10.00 was
Toted to the Slovak Workingmen's School at Irving
Park.

The salaries of officers were increased as fol-
lows: the president was to receive $400.00; each
member of the Board of Trustees, $400.00; the vice-
president, $100.00; the secretary, $400.00; the treas-
urer, $600.00, and each of the Auditing Committee
members, $40.00 a year.

John Pecha was then unanimously elected Pres-
ident; St. Simecek, Vice-President; V. H. Filip, Sec-
retary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer; Jos. Siman (for three
years) a member of the Board of Trustees, and John
Klaus, Vac. Waska and Jos. Ringl, members of the
Auditing Committee.

A special meeting on January 21 was devoted to
the question of the erection of a new administration
iDuilding and green-houses. The estimates were from
$100,000 to $150,000. The vice-president, Simecek,
explained that the green-houses were about to fall
down and the administration building was insufficient
for present day demands. After a lengthy debate the
recommendation of the Board of Trustees was ap-
proved and they were instructed to erect all these
l)uildings.

On February 4 the delegates honored the mem-
ory of the deceased delegate, Ant. Kubes, by rising
from their chairs and a committee of three, Jos. Lang,
F. Knizek and Fr. Zahrobsky, was appointed to draft
a resolution of sympathy to be sent to the family.

117

The Bohemian American Cremation Society sent
its delegates, F. Strunc, V. Soukenik and V. Karnik,
to this meeting to ask for financial support for a
lecture campaign in favor of cremation. The president
explained to them that the Cemetery Association had
published a pamphlet at the expense of $500.00 and
intended to publish colored postal cards of the crema-
torium in order to arouse the interest of the general
public. In the following debate J. Kfiz put stress on
the necessity of energetic campaigning in ladies' so-
cieties which were still very much prejudiced against
cremation; finally the whole mater was referred to
the Board of Trustees which was instructed to pre-
pare a plan for efficient agitation in co-operation with
the Cremation Society.

On March 4 the recommendation of the Board
of Trustees that the salaries of the cemetery man-
agers, Mssrs. Bastyf and Paryzek, be increased to
$2,600.00 a year was approved.

On April 1 the Board of Trustees was directed
to pay the bill for $29,261.72 for the pavement of
Crawford Avenue along the cemetery property.

At the Memorial Day celebration the Attorney
General of the State of Illinois, Oscar C. Carlstrom,
and Mr. Charles Pergler, of Washington, D. C, were
speakers.

At a special meeting of May 23 the lowest bids
for the administration building and green-houses were
submitted. The total was $137,610.00, but the pres-
ident mentioned that with various additional items
the total could be expected to near $150,000.00. Fin-
ally the Board of Trustees was instructed to continue
with letting of contracts.

On August 5 the president reported that Mr. Stef-
fek, who had been employed in the cemetery for 36
years, had died and the Board of Trustees was in-
structed to see what could be done for the family of
the deceased.

The bookkeeper, Mr. Kozak, reported that the
increase of the cemetery assets in the first six months
of this year was $112,243.43.

Upon motion of the delegate Peter Jelinek the
busts of John Hus and John Zizka were donated to

118

the Hus Memorial Home, with provision that they
would be lent to the cemetery in case of need.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Sep-
tember 27. Fifty six delegates were present. Upon
motion of the delegate Ruzicka, seconded by dele-
gate Kofron, is was resolved to put a bronze tablet
with names of all delegates and officers on the new
administration building. Upon motion of delegate
Lang it was further resolved that a floral gift in the
form of 50 roses be sent to the daily **Svornost"
which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary at that time
and the officers be present at the celebration in the
offices of the daily "Svrnost".

On December 2 the following New Years* dona-
tions were voted: $3,000.00 to the Bohemian Free-
thought Schools; §1,000.00 each to Old Peoples' Home
and Orphan Asylum and to the John Hus Memorial
Home and to the Bohemian Freethought Federation;
$100.00 each to the Zdrubek School, Masaryk School
and Bohemian Benevolent Society; $50.00 each to the
Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani and Palacky School; $25.00
each to the Slovak Irving Park School and to the
Besldka, and $15.00 to the Hanson Park School.

Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees
it was resolved that all applicants for work in the
cemetery be examined by Dr. Mueller.

1926

At the annual meeting on January 6 it was re-
solved that the salary of the vice-president be in-
creased to $200.00 a year.

John Pecha was reelected President; St. Sime-
cek, Vice-President; Victor H. Filip, Secretary; Jos.
Jurka, Treasurer; Fr. Boucek, a member of the Board
of Trustees for three years; John Klaus, Jos. Kfiz
and Vac. Waska, members of the Auditing Committee.

A donation of $1,000.00 was voted to the build-
ing fund of Sokol Slavs'ky in Cicero.

The bookkeeper, J. Kozak, reported that the in-
crease of the cemetery assets in the last six months
of 1925 was $21,928.00, the total of assets being
$1,688,042.00.

119

On April 7 a donation of $100.00 was voted ta
the Jubilee Bazaar of the daily ''Spravedlnost".

The delegates, Zrust and Lang, were appointed
to represent the Association in the Bohemian Free~
thinkers' Convention.

The request of the American Camp No. 30 of
the Spanish War Veterans for the free erection of a
concrete foundation for the Spanish War Veterans
Monument was granted.

On May 5 Mrs. Lorenz and Mrs. Brasnicka ap-
peared before the meeting and explained the neces-^
sity of a building for Bohemian societies, Sokol Asso-
ciation and Bohemian school, on the Northwest Side.
Such a building was planned on Cicero Avenue, be-
tween North and Wabansia Avenues, for $51,600.00.
A donation of $100.00 was voted to the building fund.

Upon report of the Board of Trustees that the
stair-case in front of the Crematorium was liable to
break down, it was resolved after a lengthy debate
that the board consult with architect Rusy and erect
a solid stair-case, either of stone or of concrete.

The official dedication of the new administra-
tion building, green-houses and Palm House to the
Bohemian public was held on May 22. It was gen-
erally acknowledged that the administration building^
was the most beautiful in the United States, and the
Palm House with its tropical plants and goldfish im-
pressed the delegates and guests greatly. A collec-
tion for the Old Peoples' Home and Orphan Asylum
yielded $155.00.

On June 2 the delegates honored the memory
of the deceased delegate, Vac. Smid, by rising from
their chairs.

On July 7 a donation of $100.00 was voted for
the Woodrow Wilson Monument in Prague, Czecho-
slovakia.

The Board of Trustees reported that the cost of
the new crematorium stair-case would be $21,975.00.

It was resolved that the officers and the Mem-
orial committee were to form the committee for the
celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery in 1927.

120

On August 4 the delegates honored the memory
of the deceased delegate, Ign. Cerny, and a resolution
of sympathy was sent to the family. The president
reported also the death of Mr. Balcar, who had been
^n employee of the cemetery for many years.

A donation of $500.00 for the Spanish War Vet-
erans' Monument Committee was voted, this amount
being wanting should the celebration of the unveil-
ing of the monument be held on September 26.

Upon report that the upper stairs to the crema-
torium were also to be replaced by new ones, the
necessary additional amount of $487.00 was approved.

The fiftieth anniversary committee submitted a
report that the celebration be held toward the end
of June 1927, consisting of a great popular celebra-
tion the first day and a banquet the second day and
that a ^'Mother'' Monument be erected in the ceme-
tery as a permanent memento of this jubilee. This
statue of "Mother" was to remind us of our mothers
and of our debt to them which could only be repaid
in the true gold of daily affection and of which Mr.
Pazdral, the speaker at the Memorial Day celebra-
tion of that year, spoke in such heartfelt terms. The
committee asked for $50,000.00 to be used for the
celebration, for the publication of a Bohemian and
an English Memorial book and for the erection of the
statue which was to cost about $10,000.00. After a
lengthy debate the recommendation was adopted by
47 votes against 2.

The Auditing Committee reported an increase in
assets during the first six months of the year of
^88,565.46, the total assets being $1,776,607.92.

The annual tour of inspection was held on Au-
gust 29. Sixty-one delegates and all executive officers
were present. Stops of piety were made at all graves
of prominent men and women buried in the ceme-
tery. The new stair-case in front of the crematorium
met with general approval.

On September 1 a donation of $300.00 was voted
to the building fund of Sokol Havlicek-Tyrs Gym-
nastic Society.

The unveiling of the Spanish War Veterans*
Monument was held on September 26. The massive

121

pedestal, a one-piece block brought with great diffi-
culties from Wausau, Wis., was donated by Mr.
Albrecht, Jr. The monument itself was created by
Theo. A. R. Kitson, New York. Mr. Fr. Stejskal, the
last living Bohemian veteran of the Civil War, march-
ed at the head of the procession which started from
the Vojta Naprstek School and after a ride on Craw-
ford Avenue surface cars was formed again in front
of the Old Peoples' Home. The celebration was open-
ed by Alb. A. Fara, commander of the Camp No. 30,
who in his speech remembered 44 comrades buried
in the Bohemian National Cemetery. His daughter,
Miss Evelyn Fara, unveiled the monument. Mr. J. A.
Cervenka was the Bohemian speaker of the day,
O. E. Carlstrom, president of the United States War
Veterans' organization, delivered an English speech,
and after a dedication speech by the veteran, K. V.
Janovsky, and acceptance of the monument by the
president of the Cemetery, John Pecha, the celebra-
tion closed by "taps" blown by L. Hodik of New Lis-
bon, Wis.

On November 3 it was resolved that the picture
of the veteran, Fr. Stejskal, be inserted in the Mem-
orial book which was in preparation for the semi-
centenary celebration, because Mr. Stejskal had been
the marshall of the Memorial Day processions for
many past years.

Mr. Albin Polasek, head of the sculpture depart-
ment of the Chicago Art Institute, appeared at this
meeting and submitted a miniature model of the
"Mother" Monument. The bronze group was to be
eight feet high. Its idea is as follows: The mother,
holding a baby in her arms, bids farewell to her young
son who is about to set out the road of life. The
torch in his hand represents the education and good
advices which he has received from his mother and
his determination to spread the enlightenment in the
world. The monument was to be encircled by a hedge
and in front of it a water basin with flowers was to
be made. Mr. Polasek's explanatory words met with
sincere approval. President Pecha reminded the
delegates of a recent remark of Arthur Brisbane that
among the mass of monuments throughout the United

122

states there was not one honoring Mother. Those
words were written some time after the decision of
the Bohemian National Cemetery to erect such a
monument, and so this cemetery would be the first in
America to realize this beautiful idea. The motion
of the delegate Cipra that the artist go ahead with
his work was adopted by all votes except one.

On December 1 the following New Year's dona-
tions were voted to the total amount of $8,100.00:
$3,000.00 to the Bohemian Freethought Schools;
$2,000.00 to the Bohemian Old Peoples' Home and
Orphan Asylum; $1,000.00 to the Algonquin Camp
of the C. S. P. S. Grand Lodge of Illinois; $500.00
each to the Music fund of the Orphan Asylum, to the
John Hus Memorial Home and to the Bohemian Free-
thought Federation; $100.00 each to the Zdrubek
School, to the Masaryk School, to the Bohemian Bene-
volent Society, to the United societies of the North-
west Side and to the Jan Neruda School; $50.00 to
the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelanl; $25.00 each to the Slo-
vak School at Irving Park and to the Besidka. $20.00
was donated to the Bohemian American Cremation
Society to cover the expense of the cremation of four
deceased members.

The customary New Years' poultry gifts to the
employees were approved and upon motion of the
delegate Svacha it was resolved to send similar gifts
also to the representatives of the daily newspapers
who attended the meetings of the Association and
wrote reports.

1927— THE SEMI-CENTENARY JUBILEE YEAR

The annual meeting of January 5 was very im-
pressive.

John Pecha was elected President unanimously
and vice-president Simecek, in the name of the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery Association, congratulated
him upon his thirtieth year of service in this body
and upon his seventieth birthday which he would
reach in this year.

St. Simecek was elected Vice-President; Victor
H. Filip, Secretary, and Jos. Jurka, Treasurer — all

123

unanimously. Jaroslav Bartos was elected a mem-^
ber of the Board of Trustees for three years, while
John Klaus, Jos. Kfiz and Vac. Waska were elected
members of the Auditing Committee.

Upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees,
the following executive employees were appointed:
Chas. Bastyf, outdoor superintendent; Henry Pary-
zek, indoor superintendent; John Kozak, first book-
keeper; Jaroslav Gregor, second bookkeeper; J^
Hroch, assistant bookkeeper.

Upon motion of delegate Budilovsky a donation
of $25.00 was voted to the Slovak Benevolent Society^

On February 2 delegate J. L. Bfezina renewed
his motion that the old age insurance for employees
be introduced as a part of the Golden Jubilee cele-
bration. After a lengthy debate it was stated that
the Board of Trustees was working up the plan of
this insurance which was a very complicated matter
and would submit a definite proposition as soon as it
would have completed its deliberations.

The Board of Trustees reported that the order
for 10,000 Memorial books was given to R. Mejdrich
& Co. for $5,550.00. The book of 320 pages was to
contain about 64 illustrations and be attractively
bound.

The Board of Trustees also recommended that
an English version of the Memorial book be published,
in a succint form, which could be given as a souvenir
to the guests who frequently were coming to see the
cemetery and to the English speakers at the Memorial
Day celebrations. It was resolved to publish 2,500
copies of this English Memorial book which was ta
contain about 120 pages exclusive of the illustra-
tions. Dr. Jar. E. S. Vojan was selected to write this
English version.

On March 2 the Board of Trustees recommended
Congressman Henry T. Rathbone and Dr. Jaroslav
Novak, Czechoslovak consul general in New York,
as speakers for the Memorial Dey celebration. The
recommendation was adopted after a lengthy debate.

The financial statement for the last six months
of 1926 showed an increase in assets of only $26,837,
although the receipts were considerable (for instance

124

the interest from bonds alone was $24,050.) Dele-
gate Waska, member of the Auditing Committee, ex-
plained the small increase by the fact that new build-
ings, completed last year, had required considerable
sums, for instance one of these single items was
more than $31,000. President Pecha informed the
delegates that delegate Wacek, a public accountant,
had promised to draft a plan of bookkeeping which
would show clearly which branches of the cemetery
business were profitable and which perhaps were
unprofitable.

With this meeting the fifty year period of exis-
tence of the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa-
tion was completed, in view of the fact that the
foundations for the erection of the cemetery were
laid at the meeting of March 12, 1877. The first
fifty years were reached in honor — vivant sequentes!

125

epilck;

An English proverb says: ''A good beginning
is half the battle." The words are poor if we try to
find a sufficiently eloquent expression for our grati-
tude to those pioneers who had made such a good
beginning at the end of the seventies of the last cen-
tury, whereby the battle for the present magnificent
Bohemian National Cemetery was half-won. May
the first pages of this book be a monument to these
valiant men who proved once more that Cicero was
right when he said two thousand years ago: **It is
the nature of a brave and resolute mind not to be dis-
quieted in difficult matters — Fortis et constantis ani-
mi est non perturbari in rebus asperis.'* Immense
seemed to be the difficulties which had to be over-
come in the first decades of the existence of the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery, but all those obstacles were
only incentives to greater courage and determination.

The present figures speak clearly. How modest
were the figures of the first five months! In the
period from August 1 to December 31, 1877, the re-
ceipts, including the loans from several societies, were
$4,685.36, the disbursements, $3,228.50. When the
first quarter of a century was reached, the assets of
the cemetery were $232,748.17 (bonds, $69,000.00;
inventory, $154,491.00, and various accounts receiv-
able, $5,008.50).

127

The last semi-annual financial statement, from
July 1 to December 31, 1926, shows the following
assets :

Cash in treasury $ 9,927.16

Bonds of the Association 555,244.91

Bonds of the Reserve Fund 232,423.71

Bonds of the Permanent Decoration Fund 302,831.38

Inventory 695,514.27

Accounts receivable for lots 7,129.35

Accounts receivable for Columbarium.. 313.00
Accounts receivable for grave decora-
tion 62.00

Total assets $1,803,445.78

During the fifty years of existence of the Bohe-
mian National Cemetery, from August 1, 1877, to
December 31, 1926:

7,921 lots were sold.

50,334 bodies were buried (860 interments were
free of charge).

1,161 bodies were cremated.

The area of the cemetery is 130 acres, of which
49 acres are lots (37.7 per cent), 19.5 acres are roads
(15 percent), 18 acres are rows (14.3 per cent), 9
acres are covered with buildings or otherwise used
by the cemetery (7 per cent) and 34 acres remain
undivided (26 per cent).

There are 8,528 lots in the cemetery — 7,921 are
sold and only 607 remain for sale.

During these fifty years the Bohemian National
Cemetery Association donated $121,568.26 to the Bo-
hemian Freethought Schools and other educational
and benevolent purposes and therefore deserves to be
called the greatest Bohemian American Maecenas!
Of these donations $65,610.90 were to the Bohemian
Freethought Schools in Chicago and elsewhere and
to the Matice Vyssiho Vzdelani (Association for
Higher Education), and $18,041.90 to the Bohemian
Old Peoples* Home and Orphan Asylum in Chicago.

128

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a

"The Resignation"

By Mario Korbel

In these fifty years the Bohemian National Ceme^
tery Asspciation had eight presidents:

M. Karasek,
Jos. Matousek,
Frank Tesaf,
Jos. Hladovec,

Jos. Hora,
Vac. Matas,
Frank Mencl,
John Pecha.

Thirteen vice-presidents

John Benes,
Vac. Matas,
Vac. Topinka,
Frank Mencl,

C. J. Kopecky,
F. Kaspar,
John Kfiz,
Ant. Chmelik,
Eugene Frydl,

Stan. Halik,
John Bouse,
Jos. Ringl,
Stan. Sime^ek.

Twelve secretaries:

Frank Fencl,
Frank Pech^
E. A. Haase,
Frank Ring,

Jar. Lenoch,
Jos. Becvar,
Jos. Vaska,
Jos. Filip,

Frank MaSek,
Stan. Halik,
Theoph. Wacek,
Victor H. Filip.

Eleven treasurers

Jos. Dostal,
V6c. Slap^k,
Adalb. Silhdnek,
Vdc. Ksandr,

Ant. Kouba,
Jos. Ba§e,
Vdc. Topinka,
Jos. Kostner,

Vdc. Vi§a,
Jos. Babka,
Jos. Jurka.

Forty-three members of the Board of Trustees

Jos. MatouSek,
Jos. Novdk,
Steph. Sramek,
A. Bedlan,
Vac. Sejk,
V. Stehlik,
F. Mencl,
Vdc. Tejcek,
Fr. Rothbauer,
Fr. Kvapil,
John Kotek,

V. Tesaf,
J. Jakubka,
Fr. Fiser,
Thom. Kamis,
J. Vodicka,
Jos. Cinkl,
Fr. Hess,
Jos. Dostal,
E. A. Haase,
V. Topinka,
J. A. Smejkal,

Jos. Kostner,
Jos. Hora,
Vac. Nekola,
Jos. Nikodem,
Jos. Jurka,
Jos. Sindelaf,
Fr. Fucik,
V. Matas,
M. Wolf,
Fr. Vitla^il,
R. Pitte,

129

C. J. Kopecky, Fr. Boucek, M. Kralovec,

V. Kolacek, John Pecha, Eugene Frydl,

M. Sikyta, Jos. Siman, Jaroslav Bartos.

Thorn. David,

The Association has 37 members. These socie-
ties are represented by 74 delegates.

While it is customary in many societies that
nobody wants to be appointed a delegate to other
societies, the Bohemian National Cemetery Associa-
tion soon became a rare exception. Anyone felt hon-
ored if he was appointed a delegate to the Cemetery
Association, and that is the explanation for the fact
that the delegates change so rarely today. Usually
the delegate retains his office till his death or his
own resignation for very urgent reasons. At the an-
nual meetings scarcely three or four really new dele-
gates are announced.

The meetings are a model to all other Bohemian
societies. Harmonious co-operation, friendly discus-
sions, moderation even in hot debates and wisdom
of opinions prevail in them. Only these excellent
qualities shown in all deliberations made it possible
that the executive officers remained in their places
for many years in succession. For instance, the Asso-
ciation had only eight presidents in fifty years, an
extraordinarily rare fact in the annals of fraternal
societies.

The Bohemian National Cemetery is one of the
most beautiful cemeteries in the United States, a real
Garden of the Dead. It excels in floral decorations,
as well as in general pleasing arrangement, its ad-
ministration building, green-houses and Palm house
are splendid, and by and by — as Polasek^s ^'Mother*'
foreshadows — it will also become a treasury of art
gems.

To every American fellow-citizen of other racial
descent the Bohemian National Cemetery is a surpris-
ing evidence of the high cultural level of the Bohe-
mian immigrants.

To our sons and daughters the Bohemian National
Cemetery is a proud legacy!

130

CONTENTS

Page

Preface 3

Introductory 5

1877 ? 7

1878 18

1879 22

1880 25

1881 28

1882 31

1883 33

1884 34

1885 36

1886 39

1887 41

1888 43

1889 45

1890 47

1891 48

1892 50

1893 53

1894 55

1895 56

1896 58

131

I'age

1897 60

1898 '. 62

1899 63

1900 65

1901 66

1902 — The Year of the Twenty-Fifth Anni-
versary , . . . . 68

1903 71

1904 72

1905 74

1906 76

1907 77

1908 78

1909 80

1910 81

1911 82

1912 84

1913 86

1914 90

1915 93

1916 95

1917 97

1918 99

1919 102

1920 104

1921 106

1922 109

1923 Ill

1924 113

1925 117

1926 119

1927 — The Semi-Centenary Jubilee Year 123

Epilog 127

132

ILLUSTRATIONS

"The Mother" by Albin Polasek. Erect-
ed in front of the Crematorium in
the Jubilee Year of 1927.

John Pecha, the present President of
the Bohemian National Cemetery As-
sociation, holding this office already
for 30 years .

Officers of the Bohemian National
Cemetery Association: Stan. Sime-
dek, Vice-President; Victor H. Filip,
Secretary; Jos. Jurka, Treasurer.

The Board of Trustees of the Bohemian
National Cemetery Association: Jar.
Bartos, Jos. Siman, Fr. Bou6ek.

Superintendents of the Bohemian Na-
tional Cemetery: Chas. BaSt;^, Henry
Par^zek .

Bookkeepers of the Bohemian National
Cemetery: John Kozak, Jar. Gregor,
Jos. Hroch.

Editorial Committee of the "History of
the Boh. Nat. Cemetery": Chas. Ko-
pecky, Stan. §ime6ek, J. J. Jelinek.

Dr. Jar. E. S. Vojan,author of the Eng-
lish version of the "History of the
Boh. Nat. Cemetery".

F. B. Zdrubek, co-founder of the Boh.
Nat. Cemetery and author of its first
"History."

Monument of Ladimir Klacel, philos-
opher and Free Thought pioneer.

Civil War Veterans' Monument.

The start of the Memorial Day pro-
cession .-

133

American Veterans in the Memorial
Day procession .

Czechoslovak Legionnaires in the Mem-
orial Day procession.

President Pecha opens the Memorial
Day Celebration of the Jubilee year

Spanish War Veterans' Monument.

Prospective view of the Crematorium
and the "Mother" Monument. (From
a picture by the architect Rusy.) .

The large Ceremony Hall in the Crema-
torium .

The small Ceremony Hall in the Crema-
torium .

A section of the Columbarium with
urns in the Crematorium.

The new Administration Building in the
Boh. Nat. Cemetery.

The new Gate in the Bohemian Na-
tional Cemetery.

The permanent floral decoration in the
Boh. Nat. Cemetery .

Greenhouses in the Bohemian National
Cemetery .

Greenhouses and the Old Fountain from
the North .

Living Quarters of the executive em-
ployees .

The Interior of the Palm House.

The floral decoration in front of the
Administration Building.,

The Interior of the Palm House.

The Salesrooms of the Floral Depart-
ment .

The Garage.

**The Resignation" by Mario Korbel.

134

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